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Published: August 6th 2021
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We take the bullet train from Xi'an to Beijing, a journey that will take approximately 4.5 to 5 hours. I am excited to experience what a bullet train feels like. In some ways, it feels like being on an aeroplane, as the seats have brochures and magazines in the back pockets and there are small TV screens in the aisle, and you are constantly being offered refreshments. I can't help but keep an eye on the max speed we are going as one of the screens in the carriage shows the current speed and I note a top speed of 306km/hr (approximately 190 mph).
Once we arrive in Beijing, we gather together and take a private bus to a remote area of
The Great Wall of China, known as Jinshanling's Great Wall. This mountainous area is some 80km away from Beijing. The reason we have come here instead of Beijing is because the wall is one of the best preserved parts and does not attract many tourists; I am hoping this means my expectation of getting great photos of the wall with limited people vs. with crammed crowds may actually become reality.
Since the area is remote, we are
spending the night at a homestay. Although it doesn't quite feel like a homestay, as we are giving our own room that has its own shower and toilet. The accommodation is very basis. No complaints by me though, as it's for one night and means we're very close to the Great Wall.
The area of Jinshanling is remote but it looks like work improvements are being done here to attract more tourists. Our tour guide doesn't think it will take long until this area starts to become commercialized as there are plans to build hotels. I am grateful to get to explore this area whilst it is very remote and untouched from heavy tourism.
Next day The next day, we get up early as our tour guide says there will be literally no one at the wall. She says it can get a bit busier throughout the day though. We get in these small golf buggy type cars and head to the main entrance to see
The Great Wall of China.
Once we arrive at the wall, our tour guide explains that the wall was built to protect China and prevent invasions of other tribes. The
majority of the wall was built back in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The wall is about 21,000 km long and will take you to Russia. The wall has 7,000 watchtowers, along with blockhouses. According to history the wall has taken some 2,000 years to be built completely.
We enter the wall and I cannot believe how quiet it is, we literally have the wall all to ourselves. This is brilliant, as my expectation is fulfilled. I can get beautiful photos of the wall without the stress of people getting in the shot. The weather is on our side too, as the sun shines through the hazy sky. I cannot believe I am here at another 7th Wonder of the World (4/7 for me). The walk is pleasant as I appreciate this great wall and the fantastic scenery. I ensure to get plenty of photos, including myself in the shots, as this is a once in a lifetime visit, perhaps.
From the Six-window tower, I walk all the way past the East Five-window Tower, occasionally crossing paths with other tourists or those in my tour group. From the East Five-window Tower, I keep going a bit further until the
wall becomes quite difficult to walk on as the path has suffered heavy erosion. Despite wearing my good walking shoes, I decide I've seen a good amount of the wall and experienced walking on a good section of eroded wall, so I head back to Xiaojinshan Tower, where I take a cable cart back down to the main entrance and patiently wait for my tour group. We then get back onto the golf buggies to take us back to the bus for our final stop of the tour.
Our next final stop; Beijing
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Shikha Sharma
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