RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Don't be a goofy tourist and go to Badaling (that is just a tourist circus) If you want nice, quiet time with the wall and take great pictures, try Simatai (my spelling might be slightly off) it has a few tourists but the steep climb keeps the weak-knees away. The Wall is a must-see, but it is better to see it outside of the Badaling tourist trap.

Don't miss out if you ever have the chance to see it, one of historys greatest achievements.

Most tourists (especially Westerners) see the Great Wall of China near Beijing (at Badaling). While it is my understanding that it is merely a popular myth that the Great Wall is the only manmade structure visible (to the naked eye) from space, this does not make it any less impressive. Most of the Wall is in ruins (largely due to disrepair and intentional destruction by Chinese governments until a relatively recent renaissance in interest in their own pre-communist history), but the section near Beijing has been reconstructed for both safety and to foster tourism. Despite the excessive commercialism (they sell t-shirts and other crap right beside and on the Wall itself), the view and sense of history is still present. Be forewarned that the climb up to and back down from the higher elevations on the Wall can be physically taxing for many visitors, as some sections are rather steep. For a bit of history, the genesis of the Great Wall dates to more than 2000 years ago as a manmade defense against the Hun and Mongol tribes of the Asian steppes; however, the structure didn't take its recognizable form until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). To put this in a global cultural perspective, while Western Europe was entering the Age of Discovery and reaching out to a greater world (for good or ill), Chinese society was older and considered itself more mature; therefore, the Chinese looked inward exerting great resources trying to keep the rest of the world out. In some ways, these differing philosophies persist even today.

I climbed the Great Wall (at Badaling) last November, and it was an awe-inspiring experience. I guess I was expecting to scale a ladder up to some crumbling hilltop. Well, that was not the case! The Great Wall is a magnificent, relatively intact (in many places) structure, and you can hike on it for hours on end. The sense of history is overwhelming, and the scenery is breathtaking. You need to be in fairly good condition to get very far, though, because there are numerous steps and the incline is pretty steep in certain sections. It's best to go on a clear, cool day, and I recommend making an effort to go off-season to avoid the crowds. Definitely worth the effort!

Maybe the Great Wall near Beijing (at Baodaling) is a bit commercial. But if you have any sense of history, this is not to be missed. It's not just a wall, it's a highway on top, through steep winding mountains. It's hard walking but worth every minute, or hour.

There is nothing like walking upon the Great Wall. To walk upon it and see the Wall continue beyond the horizon is an awe-inspiring experience. Even the fact that there are vendors everywhere trying to get your hard-earned dollars fails to detract from the grandeur of this amazing place.

The only stucture that you can identify from space. That's gotta count for something. Just amazing.

It is a must see if you are in China. Then you can buy a T-Shirt that says 'I have climbed the Great Wall'.Take a drink with you, you will get thirsty.

The Great Wall is amazing! I have to visit it one day! :o) PS: You CANNOT see it from the moon, only from the space! :o)

One of the greatest engineering feats in the history of humankind. The only man-made object visible from space!