Jim Beachill – 2011 China Great Wall – Trek 1 Beijing – Laolongtou – Shanhaiguan

Beijing to Laolongtou
The Trek began with a 4 hour drive from Bejing to a place called Laolongtou. We had reached the seas and the beginning of the Wall – the Old Dragon’s head. This is the Eastern start of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and it extends into the Bohai Sea like a dragon drinking water.

Laolongtou to Shanhaiguan
From here we walked along the route of the Wall, first on an earth bank and then alongside a busy bustling road until after about 6 kilometres we eventually reach the modern city of Shanhaiguan. Here we climbed up to the First Pass under Heaven and along the restored garrison walls.