pic: Dottie Al at Great Wall

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Very cool place! So little of this section of the wall is flat, we actually climbed to a tower that is just out of view behind the second tower. I estimate we went over 1000 ft. vertical and 1 mile horizontal before time and altitude got to us. The sections between the towers that are in view is almost exclusively stairs. We also had a great day, visibility about 5 miles with haze and blue sky. This picture is just one side of a mountain valley that the wall traverses. It is located about 1 hour north of Beijing. You can check out www.smartours.com for the China and Yangtze River Cruise to see the itinerary and places we visited. Men with beards are unknown in China so many local people took my picture throughout the trip including many who asked if I would take a picture with their children.