So Good I Went There Twice! - China, Great Wall, Jingshanling

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This isn't a duplicate entry, I was so impressed with my visit to the Great Wall at Mutianyu that I wanted to go again. This time I went to Jinshanling. It's less well preserved or restored than the other sections of Wall and allegedly had better scenery.

Its a bit of a trek and took us over 2.5hrs to get there. I went with Ali, Bonita and Tom who I had met at the hostel. We used Mrs. R. Ye this time who is Mr. R. Ye's wife (Introduced as Driver Wife!). The cost was a little more expensive than the previous trip, at RMB 150 (£15), but at nearly twice the distance it was good value.

Even more remote than Mutianyu and much more rugged, Jinshanling was almost empty when we got there. Some of the sections are almost vertical and in poor condition so climbing it can be a little tricky. Still the reward is some of most spectacular views of the wall and a backdrop to match.

We had about three hours here and it was probably just right. Due to the crumbling nature of the walls, some sections don't offer any shielding from the elements, which can be unforgiving on a cold day. Still we managed to get quite far before time caught us out and we had to head back.

If you're going to the great wall for the first time then I would recommend Mutianyu, If you have some additional time and like walking then Jinshanling is a better representation of the wall as it is today and allows for a four hour walk to Simatai, which is also well regarded.

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