By Peter Cao, Great Wall Hiking

Joanne,a horticulturist from Canada was planning a hiking tour to the Great Wall of China. For many years it has been her dream to hike the Wall. Her goal was to walk all sections of the Wall in Beijing: original wall, wild wall, away from tourists.
 
Fom Sept,1st to Sept,6th, she did 9 rounds of walk on 7 sections of the Wall : Huangyaguan, Gubeikou, Jinshanling, Shentangyu, Jiankou, Mutianyu and Huanghuacheng.

 
 
Huangyaguan section is the only section ouside Beijing. But there is a pass ( military base ) to wander and we even had time to visit the Eastern Qing Tombs.

Gubeikou Section is totally unrestored. During 3 hours' hiking we didn't meet a single other tourist. We got the feeling of walking on a lonely planet.

Joanne even spent on night sleeping on a watchtower at Jinshangling section.

Shentangyu Section is a wild Wall. The stone walls are already crumbled but the watchtowers are basicly in good condition.

The most beautiful section of the Wall is at Jiankou. The body of the maganificient wall on sharp cliffs was build with limestone - pure white and elegant. On our way from Jiankou to Mutianyu, we reached the highest Wacthtower Zhengbeilou and enjoyed a panorama view of the Wall at Jiankou.

Mutianyu section is now very crowded and commercial, full of tourists and vendors. But it reminded Joanne the privacy and originality of the other sections.

Huanghuacheng Section of the Wall was located on both sides of a reservoir. It's not developed yet. There isn't a ticket office. It's a beauty ignored by most tourists.

During the six days' hiking, Joanne stayed in farmer's gusthouses and tastes fresh green food such as potherb,mushroom,gourd thread. As a vegetarian, she also enjoyed a dozen ways of Toufu cuisine . Joanne was delighted to be able to touch the real life of the Chinese farmers outside the capital.