Hi,

 

Completed this year's walk/climb on the 13th and then came up to Dandong to trek the Hushan GW, supposedly the north-eastern end of the Ming GW. Pleasantly restored 11 towers, right on the border with North Korea.

 

Am flying back early tomorrow morning and rest this old body for next year's even tougher hike/climb.

 

7/10.  08:22 – 17:25. Po Chengzi (eastwards) – near Chaoguancun, Wohushan GW Scenic Area. 12.7 km, 20,976 steps.

TA 1162m, MA 683m.

​

After confronting the Crouching tigers, we took them on again from their behinds, starting at Po Chengzi (east) area towards the Wohushan. Reached the fork in the wall and marched up towards the mountain, scaling the highest tower at 680m, directly behind Wohushan. As if that was not enough, returned to the fork and went up the left (north) wall to its end where it hit the rock cliff, the last bit was almost a vertical climb. Our reward was a great panoramic view of the snaking Panlongshan, Jinshanling and Simatai walls – simply exquisite.

​

The vertical descend was a very slow bum-sy shaky step down and then took another fork down the old BeiQi wall (more than 1000 years older than the Ming) – all rocks/stones stacked up with earth, down to the road where we then returned to Gubeikou for the night.

​

8/10.  08:21 – 16:48.  Po Chengzi (westwards) – Yuzhuanghu – Tianzhuangcun - Zhimayu. Xizhuangdi (Xitougucun area) – Yinziyu – Dayin Ziyumen – Xizhuangdi. 11.9 km, 18,824 steps. TA 866m, MA 780m.

​

Continued the wall’s west branch from Po Chengzi, and it was turning out to be a good hike till we hit the large 20m high rock which we deemed too dangerous to cross. Decided to back-track and bush fight our way down to the village of Yuzhuanghu and walked to Zhimayu. Picked up by CH and drove to Xitougucun and climbed the 4-eyed tower.

 

As we arrived in the late afternoon, and not wanting to waste time searching for the path up, we enquired for a local guide with an offer of RMB100. Instantly there was Ms Gao, a 54-year old housewife at the front leading the charge up the mountain. She said she last trekked up 20 years ago, and left us about 20m before the tower, claiming her fee before she returned home to prepare dinner for her family. We followed the wall down to the ever present chestnuts fields, then the mountain road and back to Gubeikou again for another night.

​

9/10.  08:25 – 17:15.  Bailingguan (overlooking Toudaogoucun), Wuyingshan Forest Park area (Wudaoliang). 11.1 km, 19058 steps. TA 875m, MA 1019m.

​

It was a cold, gloomy, misty morning as we reached Bailingshan (White Ridge) mountain. This wall section was only about 2.5km long, but the hike up, walked the length of the wall, and then descend to the start point took us close to 4.5 hours. 

​

Then hop onto the car to Wudaohe village and walked another short section of Wuyingshan. Another challenging vertical Tianti, with barely 3” steps, loose bricks and falling debris, as I climbed after AL. On hindsight, we felt the climb was incredibly dangerous and were fortunate for no mishap. Rounded off the end of the wall section and trampled back to the village. 2 climbs per day with an hour travel in between was max enough for the day, and we stayed at a homestay in Caojialu road. 

​

10/10.  08:05 – 17:45.  Wulingshan (Misty Soul Mountain) area. 15.5 km, 26149 steps. TA 1197m, MA 839m.  

​

En-route to Heiguguan, after Baijia Fengou, stopover to view an ancient fortress (near Machangying), which is now a cornfield. Then took the old Ming steps to Heiguan tower, down again and followed the Heiguan wall on the opposite of the road to Wuhuguan wall till Wuhumen (5 tigers) watergate and out to the road again. Walked to Bolougai Zigou village.

​

In the afternoon, went to Dajiaoyucun and again followed the walls from Beiling on both sides of the road divide. Fairly windy, sometimes cloudy day which turned out to be a good day for hiking. This section pretty much ends the eastern loop of the Beijing Wall.

​

These sections of Miyun county are always misty, mountainous and a perfect place for anyone wanting to soothe their frayed urban souls.

​

Take care everyone and see you soon.

Regards,

Hin

​

Comment:

​

Gan, Cecilia <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 7:48 AM

 

Congratulations!,. Amazing and beyond my imagination my dear friend. I salute you!

 

Take care and have a good rest.

 

Cheers,

Cecilia

 

Hin <ooithin@gmail.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 9:34 PM

 

Tks Cecilia . Feeling very old for this journey. Hopefully can complete in 3 more years. Catch up when am back
 

 

 

Jimmy Phung <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 11:16 AM

 

Well done Hin,

Hope this helps to lead you to your eternal search.......

Cheers,

 

Hin <ooithin@gmail.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 9:33 PM

 

Tks Jim. Still searching .... Hopefully in the next 3 years
 

 

Lai Loh <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 8:31 PM

 

Hin, hats off to you. What an achievement again!!! Have enjoyed following your adventure. So relieved and glad you are safe. 

 

Take care

Lai Pheng

 

Hin <ooithin@gmail.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 9:31 PM

 

Tks laipheng. Getting very tough and am getting very old. Hope I can finish the journey in another 3 years time. Take care and regards to all at home 
 

 

alanchikfookweng <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com>   Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 8:44 AM

 

Amen...bro .Have a safe journey home.

 

Hin <ooithin@gmail.com>    Fri, Nov 1, 2013 at 6:43 AM

 

Tks bro

​

 

sue chuah <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com>   Sat, Oct 19, 2013 at 3:17 PM

 

Welcome back. Can't wait to watch your video. FYI, a few of us intend 2 meet next weekend at My Friends Cafe ( also to support my ex student, proprietor of this cafe). Kian Koon, Leong Chuan have so far agreed. If u can make it, will be nice.
Cheers
Sk

 

Hin <ooithin@gmail.com>   Sat, Oct 19, 2013 at 7:26 PM

 

Will try. Where, when ?

​