The Great Wall

With great excitement, we are off this morning to visit the Great Wall.   We are also avoided most of the crowds by driving some two hours from Beijing to a lesser visited section.  Beautiful scenery once you get outside of Beijing.

Our first glimpse.

We were dropped off at the main entrance to the Jinshanling area of the wall.

And transfered to a smaller local contract van that drove us to access walk.

Once you are up and on the wall, it is truly magnificent and awe inspiring.  Over 5,400 miles of wall protected the country for centuries.   Truly one of the most impressive structures we have seen anywhere in the world.

Walking the wall can be exhausting.  We logged a couple of miles... 

... before our picnic lunch at the Great Wall.   Chef Bennie, part of the wonderful Imperial Tours staff.

What an amazing experiece and one of the highlights of our travels.