The Great Wall (Beijing)

Advantages: Breathtaking scenery, great hiking experience, unforgettable!
Disadvantages: Your legs will hurt

...for my bluntness and simplicity; The Great Wall does exactly what it says on the tin! Yes it IS a wall! But the word great is there for a reason.) If you approach this unique sight on a similar level as this traveller, you will not enjoy the experience and subsequently you will probably not enjoy my reviewing a wall. However for those still interested, here it comes! The Great Wall of China! Great indeed! If you look through any guidebooks available ...
...about the Great Wall. It is impossible to go to Beijing and not be able to find one way or another to get yourself to it. Prior to paying for an expensive trip (and expensive they can be) and to enhance your enjoyment of it, you should ask yourself one question. What kind of traveller are you? There are several sights open for public nowadays and all have different requirements of fitness. The main two are Badaling and Simatai. Badaling is the ... Read review

Advantages: Once in a lifetime experience
Disadvantages: Touts and the need to avoid stairs after!

The Great Wall of China -have you heard of it?! I'd love to meet people who haven't - that really would be a rarity in this day and age hey?! It has been listed in the World Heritage by UNESCO since 1987, along with other sites as the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Tower of London in London, England, the Statue of Liberty in the States, Lake Baikal, Irkutz, Russia to name but a few. The Great Wall winds up and down across grasslands, deserts and even ...
...it has been associated with the tyranny of the First Emperor of the Ch'in Dynasty. Despite these sacrifices, the poor Great Wall is unfortunately no longer at its best, some places in ruins or even completely disappeared, due to erosion, villagers looting stones for construction, graffiti and vandalism however when you're over two thousand years old you have your excuses! come on! It's an estimated six thousand seven hundred kilometres (four thousand ... Read review

Advantages: beautiful scenery, fresh air, cultural, impressive, huge
Disadvantages: some parts are dangerous

The great wall is a fantastic place to visit if you like hiking or if you don’t alike. Don’t worry if you don’t like to hike because there is a cable car all the way up and all the way down so you won’t have to exert yourself too much. On the other hand if you like to hike its a spectacular place to go hiking. The climb can be quite steep but lots of fun. If you want an easier way up you can go up some stairs (not a concrete ...
...side of the mountain your own way (much more fun and adventurous). The cost as with many things you will find in China is well worth it. I do not remember the exact price now but i do know that it was not expensive. Of course the cost goes up if you wish to take the cable car. If you venture far enough away from the main touristic part of the wall you can just go up the mountain urself somewhere else and not have to pay a penny. Now travel time! ... Read review

Advantages: Ancient, magnificent, indeed a Great Wall of China
Disadvantages: Sometimes ghastly winds to cut through you and knock you off your feet

...life and it was the day I set foot on the Great Wall of China. Just a little piece of its 6700 km (4163 miles) but it was enough to draw tears to my eyes. I had always wanted to visit this 2000 year old wonder of the world and the day I did I will never forget. First impressions are of its magnificence, winding for so far across China, from east to west, built over hills and valleys of not so hospitable countryside. I thought I'd just walk up ...
...made my way up there the fascination of it all drew me further on. Unfortunately the day we visited it was blowing a howling gale and my video camera, which usually sits firmly on my chest, was swaying in the bitterly cold wind coming straight in from Mongolia. It truly was. Anyway the conditions didn't deter me - before I knew it I was up to a height I never thought I would be fit enough to achieve. Looking out over the hills it was awe-inspriing ... Read review

Advantages: One of the wonders of the world, cheap.
Disadvantages: Steep, unsuitable for people with limited mobility.

One of the wonders of the world. The Great Wall is somewhere I'd always dreamed of going, but never actually thought that I would. The Great Wall is more touristy than other parts of Beijing, but still relatively unspoilt. As we approached the Great Wall on the coach, everyone gasped as it came into sight. It was the highlight of the holiday. I shall never forget the moment I stood on the wall for the first time, and looked around me. The wall ...
...and on, as far as the eye can see and all the way up the wall are chinese characters. There were lots of people there, mostly Chinese and as I stood there, looking round me, it was almost surreal. It was very steep and we didn't make it to the top, but it was a wonderful feeling. I cannot do it justice by writing about it. You have to experience it for yourself. There are also soom good oppourtunities to buy souvenirs here. ... Read review