The Wall extends from peak to peak. The height of the mountains is used to command a greater view and for its advantage in defense. Always take the high ground, particularly if you are going to use bows and arrows and javelins. It's steep. Most of the tourists settled for climbing part of the restored section and returning, but some tourists are able to circuit between the two major gates and return by road.

There is a holiday atmosphere on the Wall.  Some families took advantage of the availability of video recorders to document their climb.Young men and women stood at the entry to the base of the wall and for a fee would climb with you, taking your picture and pictures of the surrounding countryside.

Souvenir shops are abundant and provide a cross-section of the handcrafts available in the north. Quilts, porcelain, enamels, hats, bright toys added color and movement to the atmosphere.  Several painters at work and of course there are stores selling T-shirts proclaiming that "Climbed the Great Wall."

Since the 1600's parts of the Wall in some areas have been either dismantled to provide building materials in the area or have been buried by silt.  When you stand on the Wall and look to the north you see the beginning of the great desert flat lands of the Hun. The view to the South is like a Chinese painting of layers of rolling hills covered by short brush and trees. The terrainis rough on both sides, and even today it is only accessible by a narrow road.

Seeing in Believing!  So, make a trip to the Great Wall of China!
 
  Pictures taken by tourists at the Great Wall at Juyongguan.

Helpful links to tourists:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/greatwall.htm
http://www.chinatour.com/
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/index.htm
http://www.mitec.net/greatwall/
http://www.chinavista.com/travel/greatwall/greatwall.html
http://china-window.com/beijing/tour/iplace/badaling.html
http://omart.org/itoc/tour/itoctour.html