We wake up, get ready and breakfast early to meet our guide David at 8:30 for our trip to get Great Wall at Mutiyanu. The sky is tinted with pollution today, much more so than yesterday. We get in the car and head out of the city, traffic building all the while. David is constantly referencing his iPhone to check the status of the traffic on all roads out of the city towards The Great Wall. He is downcast to see the number of roads marked red on his real time GPS display. We take a number of detours with little avail. Eventually we get to our destination, at least the car park close to the shuttle bus transfer stop. David sorts the tickets and we take the shuttle bus towards the cable car which will transport us to the wall itself. Getting off the bus, we walk a short distance passed numerous stall holders all trying to tempt us with their wares. All offers declined we start to walk up to the cable car station, a steep climb about 200 metres. A lengthy queue presents itself, and David exclaims that her has never seen anything like it at this section of the wall. After a while we get on the cable car and climb to the wall itself. We disembark and make our way up a very steep stairway (with no handrails) with significant drops on either side. Entering through a gateway being pushed and shoved by all around we enter onto the roadway of the wall itself. We can see the structure snaking away left and right onto other mountain peaks shrouded in pollution. There are many wild fruit trees as far as the eye can see, must of them in flower. I touch the wall, almost in disbelieving that we are here. We walk left now through one watchtower and then after another significant incline we walk reach another tower, this one with two levels used as accommodation for the soldiers protecting the empire. Exiting now there is a very steep stairway down, with uneven steps and now we can see over the wall and down towards the valley floor below. It is very frightening. My companion stops here and beings to sketch the view.
I walk a bit further on with David who gives me a potted history of the wall and its construction. I take some pictures and feel in awe of those that are walking further on as there is a very steep section which is seen by the locals as a challenge. David and I retrace our steps however and meet my companion finishing up her drawing. Back to the cable car now, and then off for a lunch stop. The restaurant we arrive at is used by a number of tour agents that make the trip to the Wall. It is a no frills family restaurant which David advised serves country food. It is hearty and flavoursome but basic. Some stir fried eggplant with sliced potatoes and peppers, bean sprouts with mixed vegetables, and a spicy chicken dish with Szechuan peppers, and green tea to drink.
We eat and then leave making our way out of the restaurant to meet David and the driver who are eating in a separate part of the establishment reserved for them and their colleagues. Back on the road now David has his GPS app out to try and find the best route back. He is perplexed once again to see the volume of traffic returning to the capital, but there is little to be done other than to try and take avoiding action. At least in the morning we will be avoiding traffic, resorting to walking around the city sights, but with an early start in prospect try and beat the crowds.