Our first day was the easiest, and we even knew it at the time; we didn’t have our packs, so our hike from the 1st beacon tower back to the Fort was cheesecake.
Below is the 1st beacon tower, along with a close-up and one wif me showing off my model-like prowress.

Here’s a few photos of the first bits of wall.

Before we hiked that bit of the wall I checked out the old settlement on the side of the gorge where the wall ends. Here’s the stairs leading down to the settlement.

And here’s the settlement, with a peek inside one of the houses.

This photo is looking up from the settlement at the end of the wall.

Here’s a couple photos where the wall leads up to Jiayuguan Fort.

At the end of the day, we cheered ourselves with a…gack…warm can of beer.