I finally walked a section of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, a childhood dream come true and one of the most memorable experiences of my China tour.
A childhood dream finally realised.
Ever since I was a small boy, I was fascinated by China. There was something about the scale, the history, and the mystery of the place that captured my imagination. And right at the centre of that fascination was the Great Wall of China. I always hoped that one day I would stand on it myself and walk a section of this incredible structure.
What Is the Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall of China is one of the most remarkable feats of engineering ever created. Rather than a single continuous wall, it is an immense network of fortifications built over several millennia across northern China and southern Mongolia. Its purpose was simple but vital: to protect ancient China from nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe.
Stretching roughly 13,171 miles from the Jiayuguan Pass in the west to the Hushan Mountains in Liaoning Province in the east, the wall winds across mountains, deserts, and grasslands. It is a symbol of endurance, ingenuity, and the sheer determination of the people who built and rebuilt it over countless generations.
My Walk on the Great Wall of China.
My visit to the Great Wall happened thanks to a conversation with my doctor. After discussing my health, he told me that visiting the wall would needed to be done sooner rather than later and to go while I was still fit enough. That was all the encouragement I needed, I booked a tour of China the very same day.
The tour itself was fantastic, but the Great Wall was the highlight I had always dreamed of. We visited the Mutianyu section, known for its stunning scenery and slightly fewer crowds. To reach the wall, we took a cable car from the base up to the summit, gliding over the trees until the stone towers came into view.
Once at the top, we were given time to explore on our own. I walked a fair distance with the two girls I was travelling with, Mel and Tracy. The views were breathtaking, rolling mountains, ancient watchtowers, and the wall stretching endlessly into the distance.
The section we visited was incredibly steep in places. At one point, near the first tower, the slope was so sharp that I ended up going down on my bum. I felt a bit foolish until I realised I wasn’t the only one doing it. In fact, plenty of people didn’t go any further than that first tower and simply admired the wall from there.
A Bucket List Moment Worth Every Step
Walking the Great Wall of China was everything I hoped it would be, challenging, awe‑inspiring, and unforgettable. It’s one thing to see it in books or documentaries, but standing on it, touching the stone, and looking out across the landscape gives you a whole new appreciation for its scale and history.
It was a childhood dream finally fulfilled, and one I would recommend to anyone who has ever imagined what it might feel like to stand on one of the world’s greatest wonders.
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