The First Line Of Defense

Simatai Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Being the most populated country on Earth, with well over a billion people, at times it can seem like there's always people around everywhere you go. While the Great Wall in Simatai wasn't exactly deserted, it was relatively quiet. Plenty of wall to explore without running into someone else every step you take. It's a strong contrast from some of the other places I visited in China such as Huangshan or any of the more touristed cities.

It's not exactly hard to walk on the wall. It is uneven, and you are constantly going either up or down, so it can be tiring at times, but it's still a giant stone path. Just, elevated a bit. How much you want to cover is up to you. The various fortifications and watchtowers invite themselves to a little bit of a look around.

Anytime I visit such a historical site, I always try to imagine what it must've been like when it was built. Were the guards annoyed that they got sent off on 'wall duty'? Or was it a more coveted post? If nothing else, they got to look out into the vast mountainous beauty of the land.