The Great Wall of China winds over the hills like a majestic dragon
They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Only in the case of the Great Wall of China, it’s more like thirteen thousand miles and it actually starts with a couple of plane journeys (which are included in the price of this trip, by the way).
But the moment you arrive in the land of the dragon, you’ll remember why this adventure was on your Bucket List.
China rocks, and your Great Wall trek will give you a great insight into the traditions and landscapes that make this enormous country so unique.
Winding up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, the Great Wall stretches the entire way from the East of China to the West. And while some sections of the wall are mere ruins now, so much has survived the last two thousand years, thanks to some serious ancient engineering prowess (and a little touch up here and there).
The Great Wall is thought to have originally been built in very distinct sections. The story goes that seven different states each built their own walls and used them for defence until the unification of China in the Qin Dynasty, back around 221BC.
That’s when the first emperor, Qin Shihuang, is said to have ordered the connection and extension of all the separate walls, to defend against attacks from the North. In the (many) intervening years, more emperors have added to the wall to make it the whopping length it is today.
On this trip, not only will you tackle the Great Wall herself and drink in this rich history, but you’ll get to grips with Beijing too. You’ll taste China’s exciting and fertile culture in Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Beijing’s old residential quarters. And you’ll make some memories that you’ll certainly never forget.
