Home to one of the Great Wall of China's most lush sections, Mutianyu is a perfect town from which to experience one of the country's most storied relics.
Despite being one of the oldest sections of the wall - it was built in the mid-sixth century - Mutianyu's section of the wall was used as protection for China's ancient capital, and also historically kept the imperial tombs safe from marauders or other infiltrators. Because it was built to withstand major attacks, Mutianyu's section remains one of the most well-preserved parts of this seemingly endless structure.
Mutianyu's section also holds a number of features that many other sections of the wall do not possess. Here, travelers can climb atop 22 different watchtowers, all with extensive views of lush trees and surrounding greenery. While in a watchtower, guests must also keep an eye out for inner parapets, which were historically used to shoot enemies from the safety of the thick granite walls. At the Mutianyu Pass, travelers can visit the three main watchtowers used to keep an eye out for invaders and artisans utilizing the route to transport their goods.
The ancient comfort of Mutianyu
Posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2012
