China: Mutianyu Great Wall
The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is widely considered one of the most stunning, beautifully preserved, and enjoyable portions of the wall to visit – it winds dramatically across dense pine and oak forests along a high mountain ridge. While the stone structures visible today date primarily to the Ming Dynasty, the history of this specific mountain pass stretches back over 1500 years! The earliest foundations of the Mutianyu wall were built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550–577 AD) to protect against raids by nomadic northern tribes. This wall was rather primitive and basic. Fast forward to 14th century when the Ming Dynasty overthrew the Mongols in 1368 and the new rulers became obsessed with securing their northern frontier to prevent a Mongol return. The new wall was literally an indestructible defensive line with revolutionary brand-new, indestructible defense elements – multistory watchtowers, double-sided battlements, and secondary walls branching out for extra defense. Because it is fully restored, the Mutianyu Great Wall features grand, iconic architecture, complete with 23 watchtowers. It offers a much less of a tourist trap than the insanely crowded Badaling section. And the surrounding panoramas and landscapes are surreal! and the ultimate itinerary is going up in a cable car to the hugest section of the wall at the Watchtower 14 an then descending by toboggan slide at the Watchtower 6 – this way to get to see the best sections of the wall on a one-way trip and mostly descending along the way. The cable car offers panoramic views while riding up, while the toboggan is a thrill ride on the way down.
