Hike! Badaling trek

[Kim]

I was trying to follow the Badaling section on Google Earth and managed to follow it from (40°20'5.75"N 116° 2'42.45"E) to (40° 9'45.50"N 115°44'54.95"E) and then it seems to stop.
It seems like a very nice area to trek but does anyone know if it's possible to walk all the way?

[Bryan]

Funny, I have looked at that too.



Our end points seem to match and also to correspond with the more detailed printed maps I have from the Beijing area. Looking at the images from Google Earth I would say it's probably doable but there may be a few detours that would be required.

This is one of the areas I plan to visit this September so I will be able to tell you more after that (unless you beat me to it ).

Google Earth has added some great high resolution imagery recently and it's really interesting to track the wall with it. I wish they would add more in the Beijing area such as the Mutianyu / Jiankou area and the Miyun county area.

[Kim]

It would be nice if it's possible to make the trek end to end, but you are right it might be necessary to make a few detours.
Strangely there seems to be no single map that covers the entire Great Wall, however I heard rumours that a map might be coming soon.

I was thinking of going in October, since it seems to be the only one week holiday left in China, or maybe next year.

What are your plans for September? I would be nice to meet at the Wall. I have my wedding party on September 15, and my family will be visiting from September 13 to September 19, so no trekking that week

[Bryan]

I will be arriving in Beijing around August 25 and leaving around September 30. My plans are to stay in Huairou city and visit the Great Wall primarily in Huairou county (Xiaoxihu, Mutianyu, Jiankou, Huanghuacheng, Zhuangdaokou, Xishuiyu, Moyashike, Sancha, etc). I also would like to explore both sides of the Badaling area, and in Miyun, I would like to explore the western (Wohushan) side of Gubeikou, hike from there to Simatai, and see if I am brave enough to cross the Sky Bridge.

When I find a really interesting part of the Great Wall, I like to spend plenty of time there exploring the area, trying to get good photos, and savoring the experience. Therefore I have spent many days between Jinshanling and Simatai, especially Jinshanling. I really liked Jiankou the one time I visited there, and this year I plan to spend many days in the area getting to know it well. It sure would help if Google Earth would add high resolution images in the area! Jinshanling too, for that matter.

[Bryan]

Details and photos of "residual Great Wall travels" in Yanqing county:

http://xw.bjyq.gov.cn/pinglun/read.asp?id=4334