Yanqing Great Wall and High Tower, 2014/09/27
Beautiful views of autumn foliage on this hike through the hills of Yanqing County.
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We certainly chose the right day for this hike—the weather was perfect, and the hills were full of autumn colours.
The trail took us on and off a rough section of wild Great Wall in Yanqing District, peaking at the High Tower.
The first part of the hike went in and out of valleys; sometimes on the Great Wall, and sometimes on a trail beside the Great Wall, skirting parts that were too broken down and steep to walk on.
As we went further into the hills, the autumn colours got better and better, and we chose a lunch spot right in the midst of a blaze of reds and yellows.
After lunch, we got into the hill climbing—first, to get around a radar station built atop a peak, and then to get all the way up to the High Tower, a serious climb!
We didn’t get to stay as long as we’d like at the High Tower because of an overabundance of pesky little flies. Chased away, we headed down through a very leafy valley to get back on to flat ground, where we finished the hike.
Starting off, heading for the Great Wall in the background.
First glimpse of the colourful foliage.
And a glimpse of a colourful hiker!
Looking back along the trail towards Big Camp Plate, with the windfarm by the Guanting Reservoir in the background.
And looking ahead, with the trail to take us all the way past the last peak on the right. You can just see the radar antenna.
Hikers walking on.
Hiking up an old section of Great Wall.
The trail would take us along the wall in this shot.
Only the rammed earth foundation is left of the Great Wall tower in this photo.
Enjoying the views from the top of the old tower.
This was one of the sections we skipped.
A view from the other side, again with the Guanting Reservoir in the background.
A rocky outcrop.
Looking back along the trail, with the foundation of an unusual round-shaped tower in the foreground.
Views of valleys and mountains.
The Great Wall runs along the ridges.
We’re getting closer to the antenna.
Fall foliage in the hills and valleys – beautiful!
More of the colours in the hills.
Greens, yellows, and reds.
Almost at our lunch spot, right in the middle of all the beautiful colours.
We kept walking along the wall.
A view down a valley.
We skipped part of this descent too – much easier to follow the hill trail around the side.
The colours kept getting better and better.
On the big hill in the background the High Tower is just visible!
Patches of colour in the mountains.
Finally, lunch time.
And then on again, not quite at the halfway point of the trail.
But that’s as far as we got with the photos. None of the High Tower. Next time!