It’s a monstrous thing, this ancient structure: rugged and relentless, snaking along the historical border between China and Mongolia like some massive mythical dragon made real from brick and stone. It clings to the high green peaks of the borderland at jaw-dropping angles, and it just goes on and on forever into the hazy distance. Steep? It’s about as vertical as you can imagine—in some places the well-worn steps rise 80 degrees skyward.
Walking the Great Wall of China: a rough circuit around the parts of the wall near the former imperial capital and tombs, taking in the Mutianyu, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Jinshanling, and Huangyaguan sections, along with a brief exploration of Simatai.
