23/09/16, 21:20:30.
Even before I land in China - found my first angel on MAS air. Directed to an excess business class seat, offered wine, champagne and a cool place to rest – yours trully, being a teetotaller, was just happy for a cup of green tea, given snacks and slept a few good hours. Before disembarking, was given alms of premium nuts, biscuits, coffee, teh tarik, Japanese green tea, tooth brushes, and shavers for my journey. Most visibly touched by such spontaneous compassion shown to an almost shaven headed old man in saffron tee emblazoned with “Ti-Ratana“ – what an auspicious start to my trip. Please Continue your Forever Loving kindness to all. Bless her and family.
24/09/16. 09:30 – 17:00. Beijing Airport – Yumulingcun (榆木岭村)
5 (Chen Huai, Andreas L, Junji K, Li Zhou and I) of us gathered at the Super8 airport hotel on the morning of 24/09 and after some greetings and pleasantries, made the 258km trip to our starting point – Yumulingcun.
Quickly found our hotel stay and after some local enquiries, excitedly found our path up to the wall. Wandered to the first tower and with the waning light, descended back to the hotel for our shower, dinner and bed.
25/09/16. 06:30 – 14:00. 10.6km. 19,273 steps. Total Ascend 846m. Max Elevation 713m.
Yumulingcun – Dalingzhaicun (大岭寨村)
3 (AL, JK & I) of us, struck OUT very early and start our 7th COUNT walk on the 7th day of the week. Peered through the first tower in the morning light and was accorded a wonderful view of the winding wall dotted with towers. Turned out to be quite a roller-coasting hike – a tough good first day. Came down to the village of Dalingzhaicun and after seeing the next steep ascend with fading daylight, decided to call it a day. En route back to the hotel, another spectacle of the range of towers against the setting sun, was just magical.
26/09/2016, 07:00 – 15:00. 9.9km. 18,008 steps. TA 732m. ME 498m.
Dalingzhaicun - Xingshuling (杏树岭)
A tough continuous 200m ascend had us all thoroughly soaked in sweat. Pleasantly surprised to meet a goatherd tending to his 40 goats scattered along the slopes. Couldn’t find the way past a 6m cliff drop to the wall and had to carefully steer our way round the cliff, fighting through bushes and finally making it to Xingshuling. Another challenging day and were lucky the rain came just after 4pm. Returned to Yumulingcun for the night.
27/09/16. 06:30 – 09:30 – 17:00. 12.3km, 22,363 steps. TA 995m, ME 695m.
Hongyukou (红峪口) - Cayazicun (擦崖子村) – Chengzilingcun (城子岭村) – Qingheyancun (清河沿村)
Spent 3 hours trying to find access path from Wangjiayucun (王家峪村), but couldn’t and decided to go to Hongyukou and hike backwards towards Chengziling.
Found the wall easily enough, just after the Hongyu Mountain Villa (a resort area being built anticipating tourist arrivals). It was a bright clear breezy day and the view was majestic. Passed by a Buddhist temple with a gigantic smiling Budhha. Cleared the cliff and down to Cayazicun where a pleasant young man (bless him) gave us water. Ascended another mountain towards Chengziling and eventually found the Ming path down to the chestnut orchard, and upon exit, again walked to Qingheyan where we were picked up and returned to Yumulingcun. Turns out to be a good day.
28/09/16. 07:30 – 19:00. 13.1km, 23,819 steps. TA 751m, ME 684m.
Hongyukou – Erbozi Donggou (二拨子东沟)
No problem finding the access eastwards. Another bright sunny day and 3 of us cheerfully set off, while Kin took in the sights. After the first tower, it was a treacherous climb down the cliff to the Hongyukou bridge. Lots of rocky cliff climbs follow, with very tough up/down stone/rocks steps along 8.5km of the wall, passing 18 strong towers.
The distant view of the Baiyangyu and the Lenkou white marble wall was invirogating. We had prepared to sleep over and at 17:30 came upon a saddle point with a twin tower and a possible exit. We eagerly descended, fought our way through bushes and went along a dried river bed in the dark with our China made SupFire high power flashlight. After 3.2km and a tumble on the pebbled bed, it was a welcome relief to hear the angry bark of a dog, and the beckon of the village Erbozi Donggou.We ended up at the small village shop with a friendly crowd and the village head. Had our drinks, took a few photoshots and were then led to the main street to be picked up by CH to a comfortable homestay in Baiyangyucun.
29/09/16, 07:15 - 17:30. 11.7km, 21,273 steps. TA 733m, ME 661m.
Erbozi Donggou - Baiyangyucun (白羊峪村)
Walked 3.2km to twin tower resumption point. Smog is slowly returning. Sad that a wall tablet had been hacked out and stolen.
Very much another difficult rocky up/down day and thorn-filled shrubs – felt like walking through rows of needles. Reached Baiyangyu, climbed up the wall to the fortresses, enjoyed the scenery, the breeze and later walked back down to the town.
Baiyangyu Great Wall, with 21 towers, has some unique features different from other sections of the Wall - its water pass town had a double water wall – upper part and lower part, a solid water town which was easy for self-defense. The east section of the Wall has a 1.5km unique marble wall, 10m high and 5m wide, rarely seen among other sections of the wall. And among other towers, Shenwei Tower (Powerful Tower) on the west section of Baiyangyu Great Wall is the most remarkable - it was constructed on the outer side of the wall, its four walls were built of black bricks up to the rafter of the eaves pointed with mortar. An arrow-shaped opening dug in the middle of the back exposed wall served as a window for fresh air and sunlight as weIl as a loophole for watching the enemy. It was also the place for arrow shooting and shell firing.
It’s now hastily being developed into a tourist village to attract visitors mainly from Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.
