The Great Wall at Jinshanling and Simatai
The Great Wall of China is more spectacular than I would have imagined. It stretches on for miles along the mountain ridges, dotted with watchtowers. There are sections of the wall quite close to Beijing, but we decided to hire a driver and go somewhat further afield, out to Jinshanling and Simatai, about a 3-hour drive from the city. Here there are very few tourists though no shortage of locals selling water and postcards as you hike along the wall.