After hiking Mutianyu I have to say that so far, it’s my favorite.  Not only was it devoid of the crowds Badaling draws, but there’s kilometer after kilometer of unrestored wall at both ends.

First, here’s a couple photos for JP, Shaggy, and anyone else who might be interested in the engineering aspects of the wall.  Hope this is what yoos were after!

                                 

Here’s a photo of one of the bunkhouses displaying the absolute disregard some people have for the wall; there’s graffiti all over the side. 

                                                

Now for some wall, wall, and more wall… 

                              

 

                                            

                                                        

As we neared the northeast side, we noticed quite a few people milling around on one of the unrestored towers.  Disregarding the sign (we’re bad, bad monkeys!),

                                               

we walked through the growth to get to the tower.  This was the most exciting part of the day, partly because it felt more ancient, and partly because we weren’t really supposed to be there.  However, we were careful to avoid any crumbling or fragile bits so as not to damage them any further.   

                         

                                             

Posers! 

                                     

                                               

Here’s looking back at the last tower we’d come from,

                                               

and looking out over the snaking unrestored bit.

                                       

Here’s a view of the other side we were about to hike.

                             

We walked through the winding roads of two of the distant mountains (at about 2 o’clock in the photo below) and then through the city to get to Mutianyu.  It was only a 27 kilometer walk, but the ups and downs certainly made their mark on us.  We ate lunch in the city below and were charged 95 kwai, which is equivelent to 12 usd; we were totally ganked, as an expensive lunch is 40 kwai!  As seasoned China vets, we should know enough to ask the price before ordering.

                                              

And on to the other side of the wall…

                                                

                                           

                                               

This is a view of the first side we hiked.  The lump on the last ridge on the left is the unrestored tower we were on earlier.

                                               

And a trip to the wall wouldn’t be complete without running the gauntlet of aggressive vendors stationed at their posts on the base.