Away from the crowds, the Mutianyu Great Wall allows visitors to truly experience the iconic monument.

As with other attractions, the majesty of the Great Wall of China is often adulterated by bus-loads of tourists, more interested in posing for snapshots than admiring the grandeur of the vast structure. But there is a welcome alternative: the “wild walls” found along the Simatai-Jinshanling section or Xiangshui Lake. The latter boasts stretches of untouched wall, as well as a restored section that allows for jaw-droppingly beautiful views. A few moments immersed in the peaceful tranquility and poetic history of these more remote parts can be a powerful antidote for modern day urban cynicism. Overgrown with shrubbery, its bricks crumbling into the ground, the “wild walls” reflect the true history of the UNESCO heritage site.

 

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