Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

Despite being a thousand years younger than the Northern Qi section I was
drooling over an hour ago, this wall is still in ruins – loose bricks wobble under my
feet – and alarmingly narrow, with both edges plunging some 100ft (30m) into the
valleys below.
© Sean Pavone | Alamy
unrestored portions stretch ahead
“I haven’t seen another person since I set foot on the old, stone section. I
seem to have the Great Wall all to myself”
The end of the dragon is marked by three turrets, two of which still have parts of
their roofs intact – perfect camps for the night. I pitch up, light my stove, and tuck
into a large bowl of noodles (what else?). The evening is silent. I haven’t seen
another person since I set foot on the old, stone section. I seem to have the Great
Wall all to myself.
I wake with birdsong at the crack of dawn, and smile, suddenly remembering
where I am. A cup of tea later, and I’m off walking again, waving goodbye to the
Coiled Dragon, and welcoming in the warming morning sun. After an hour or so of
magical, first-light, wall-top hiking, I reach the striking remains of 24-Eye Tower,