The Peoples Republic of China is a vast country, the most populous in the world. China has a total of 22,117 KM of land with boundaries with 14 other countries, the largest being Mongolia, Russia & India. China's geography varies greatly from the elevated Tibetan Plateau to the lowlands of Southern China, and as such its climate ranges from the sub-arctic in the North to sub-tropical in the South.

 

The great wall stretches over approximately 6,500km (4,000 miles). Most of which can still be seen today was built during the Ming Dynasty, (from 1368-1644) on a much larger scale and with longer lasting materials than any wall had been built before. The primary purpose of the wall was to ensure that semi-nomadic people on the outside of the wall couldn't cross with their horses and return easily with stolen property.

 

At its peak the Ming wall contained thousands of individual forts and towers and was guarded by more than a million men. According to historical records, the Qin dynasty section of the wall, covering 3000 miles was built in 10 years, about 25 miles per month. Three million people, 70% of Chinas population at the rime were invilved in building it. The death toll in the building of this 3,000 mile section was astounding: more than a million people died building this 3,000 mile section- thats more than 300 people per mile.

 

The area of wall visited in this trek is approx 300km north east of Beijing. Sections covered are:

GUBEIKOU - north Miyun County. The magnificent Panlong (coiling dragon) and Wohu (crouching tiger) mountains can be seen in the distance

JINSHANLING - This stretch of the wall derives its name from the Jinshan mountains on which it is built.

SIMAITAI - this part of the wall has had few renovations which give it an air of authenticity and has earned it the reputation of being the most beautiful section the the Great Wall.