Explore the Great Wall

Explore the Great Wall
Jacquetta Megarry
Rucksack Readers
IBSN: 1-898481-17-2
Non-Fiction, Travel
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

Explore the Great Wall is a guide detailing various walkable sections along the Great Wall of China. This guide includes eight parts of the wall to traverse. These sections range from a short hour long walk at Laolongtou and Shanhaiguan to full day long walks from Simatai to Jinshanling, along the Mutianyu section, and along the Badaling section of the Great Wall. In this way, individuals can walk sections of the Great Wall according to their own schedule and time constraints.
Despite common perception, the Great Wall of China is not and has never been a complete continuous wall across China. In fact, the individual structures collectively called the Great Wall is a number of wall sections built, demolished, and rebuilt throughout the various periods of Chinese history beginning around 1000 BCE. Due to this periodic building and rebuilding process, various sections of the wall were built using a variety of materials types and an assortment of architectural forms depending upon the particular dynastic regime building the particular wall section. Revitalization and rebuilding of various unwalkable wall sections is constantly being completed in an effort to rebuild individual sections to their previous state.
Most of the eight wall sections described in Explore the Great Wall were made during the Ming dynasty, 1368-1644. During this period, many earthen sections of the wall were replaced by masonry. Thus, these Ming dynasty sections look like the Great Wall as most people commonly perceive it. Along these routes are ample opportunities to see and visit towers, and tombs dating from the Ming dynasty. Moreover, the scenery along these walkable sections is simply breathtaking.
Explore the Great Wall outlines not only the background of the building episodes of the Great Wall and the various walkable sections of the wall (including full color maps) but also details various long walking and hiking fundamentals. These details include what types of equipment the participant should bring to complete the walk, how long the various sections of the journey will take, and how temperature and seasonality will affect the walk. There are also helpful tips especially for novices about daily mileage, feet, weight, and the right gear.