The Great Wall, China

The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

Things to do in Great Wall of China

1) Paragliding

offers tourists the chance to leap off the edge of the Simatai wall section and glide almost 1,000 feet into the valley below. Paragliding is permitted on all sections of the wall open to the public. After gliding into the valley, many people enjoy a hike back up to the wall, or through the surrounding countryside.

                                                             

                                                                        2) Hiking

Hiking on and around the Great Wall is easily one of the most popular activities. Many companies offer guided hiking trips ranging in length from a few hours to overnight excursions into the countryside. If a guided tour isn't your thing, the hillsides are rife with orchard trails that provide a great hiking experience for free. The abundance of trails around the wall is due to the terraced rice paddy farms that have been implemented in Chinese farming for centuries.

 3) Nan Pass - The Cloud Platform

For those seeking to experience the Great Wall even closer to Beijing and without all the tourist traffic, the southern section of the Juyongguan, the Nan Pass, is a mere 30 miles from the city.. The Nan Pass is accessible by car or bus, and is similar to the Badaling section of the wall with regard to construction and restoration. The most notable feature of the Nan Pass is the Cloud Platform, a watchtower built during the Yuan Dynasty. The beautiful tower is constructed of white marble, and includes both statues of gods and Buddhist writings inscribed on either side of the doorways.

4) Mitianyu Cable Car Ride

More than 20 towers line this section of the wall, with three connected by a tunnel that runs along the inside of the wall, a rare feature of the Great Wall. Tourists not interested in the tunnels at Mitianyu might find the overhead cable car ride more to their liking and certainly more scenic. The Mutianyu pass is open to visitors all year and is easily accessed by car or bus from Mutianyu village at the foot of the Great Wall.

                                       

5) Great Wall Marathon

For those who are up to the challenge, the Tianjin section of the wall is home to the Great Wall Marathon, a popular event that attracts hundreds of participants a year. The race is especially difficult because of the steep ascents and more than 5,000 steps along the route. Foreigners can only participate in the race as part of a five-day tour package (great-wall-marathon.com), which includes a hotel room, English- speaking tour guide, and various other amenities for $1,200 as of the time of publication.