(From our trip in April 2018)

We were up at 5.30am which always seems so doable when you plan these trips months in advance but of course the reality is (when you are dying of swine flu) it can be a challenge in a real life setting.  But we did it because we were excited – today was going to be GREAT!!!

We scoffed a quick breakfast before our guide was to pick us up at 7am.  Most visitors to Beijing who go to visit The Great Wall go to the Badaling section of the wall because it is the closest to the city.  It is the most preserved part of the wall and the steps aren’t as steep and there are handrails etc.  However with all of that ‘convenience’ comes CROWDS!!!  Like cray-cray-bah-nay-nay crowds.  See Exhibit A below