The Great Wall -Time Travel to Ancient China

China is known for being a pioneer in many a field, among these for its art-of-war. It then comes as no surprise that the most impressive archaic defense monument known to man lays here. Stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop-Nur in the west, the legendary Great Wall continues to capture the hearts of thousands of people that visit every year.

The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. It stretches somewhere around 8,851.8 kilometers and has a history going back about 2000 years. However some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared. Most of the popular sections of the Great Wall are located around Beijing,

Some of the often visited passes are: Shanhaiguan, also known as “the First Pass Under Heaven” that is the section closest to the sea; Jiayuguan is a pass that has served ancient merchants well in the past as an opening to the Silk Road and is still one of the few well maintained areas of the great wall; Mutianyu is a section that has been fully restored and is studded with watchtowers and is the longest restored section; Badaling is the most popular section and is the best preserved. Each pass offers uniquely jaw-dropping panoramas from atop one of the most incredible man-made structures of all time. The Simatai Great Wall section is a section of the original wall that is more than 400 years old. This wall climbs the steep Simatai Mountains and offers more breathtaking views but hiking along its trail is considered an accomplishment.

Nevertheless, hiking is what is recommended to observe the Great Wall in its full glory, with visitors ideally exploring one section of the wall a day to receive a true traveler experience. It is great for photography, and although certain periods are recommended for visiting, each season has its own perks, from the spring when the wall sits in lush vegetation to winter time when the back drop is a jaw-dropping mass of stark white.

While you give a go at the authentic Great Wall adventure, if you need a luxury hotel in Beijing, there is always the Grand Millennium Beijing to consider. A five star hotel with guestrooms tastefully designed for travelers, offering broadband internet, top spa and fitness facilities and excellent restaurants that cater to an international palate. This Beijing hotel even caters to business travelers with meeting and conference facilities.