Did you know the Great Wall's in China?

Recently, the Beijing Olympic Organizing Comittee (BOCOG) organized a tour for all 300 volunteers to great sights around Beijing. Imagaine my suprise when they decided to show us the Great Wall of China, which had long been considered a symbol of Chinese detatchment. Though today, instead of keeping people out, the wall is bringing people--aka tourists-- in to China. Even the Olympic commericals are using The Great Wall in its campaign, showing a pole vaulter flying over the wall. Which, for the record, is actually impossible.

Because the Great Wall is so great, and over 6,000 kilometers long (I have no idea how much that is in miles, so you'll have to do the math yourself) there are many access points to the wall. We went to Badaling, which ocated about an hour outside of Beijing. This is the most popular section of the Great Wall. And by popular I mean touristy. And by touristy I mean crowded. And by crowded I mean I got in a shoving match with a Chinese man. He started it.

Please see below photo for said crowdedness.



Of course, this is just the area outside of the Wall's entrance. Because the wall is 6,000 kilometers long, there is plenty of room to spread out once you actually begin climbing it. Another reason we were especially crowded that day was because the Mexican President was visiting the wall, so naturally, they had to close off an entire section of it for him. I hope someday I am important engouh that they have to close down the Great Wall.

Before we get to the pictures, let's have a quick history lesson. According to my guidebook, The Eyewitness Travel Guide to China (recommended for its pictures and facts, though not neccessarily practical as it doesn't have restaurant/club/shopping info) The Great Wall of China was created after the unification of China under Qin Shi Hunangdi in 221-210 BC. No, I don't know who this Qin guy is either, but anyhow. The wall ultimately proved ineffective, however, and was breated by the Mongols in the 13th cetnury and again in the 17th century. Those darn Mongols.

Today, most of the Wall has crumbled and only a small section has been rebuilt for tourists such as myself.




When people say "Climbing" the Great Wall, that is what they mean. Some parts of the Wall are so steep you have to hold on to the gaurdrails for dear life. I climbed just about as far as was allowed, and there were numerous points on my journey where I was so tired (and scared of falling) that I wanted to turn back. Then I would get passed by an 80-year-old woman in slippers. So, I kept going.