Plate G8.no1: The Great Wall of China (near Jinshalin)*

If I had to pick one photograph that summarised the Great Wall, it would be this one. The wall is iconic – and yet, segments traversed when I trekked the wall did not match that iconic view. Often the wall was not much more than ruins, and much rawer than I expected.
However, despite the fact the experience was different than anticipated, I stand by this picture as indicative of the trek as a whole, because of that aspect of the wall which prevails above all else: it’s immense scope.
This picture captures but a fragment of that aspect – and captures too, the scale by the silhouetting of my fellow trekkers, without whom I would never have been able to gauge the distance travelled – both physically, and emotionally.

*Further comment can be found in:
E Books – A Walkers Diary (Vol 3)/Trek Reflections – China 2016