March 2026: My ReflectionsĀ
Climbing the Great Wall Ā was a reminder that new adventures donāt have an age limit. I had climbed the Great Wall at the age of 63. Courage, curiosity, and determination created experiences and memories that stayed with me long after I left The Great Wall behind..
If you ever doubt what you are capable of, this climb is a quiet teacher.
4 December 2018
The Great Wall of China Ā at Mutianyu had always seemed like a story Iād read about rather than a place I could ever truly experience. It is one of the seven wonders of the world and it represents human achievement on the grandest scale. As Ā Mao Zedong said Ā “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man”. Ā I felt a great sense of achievement and wonder on reaching the top. Ā Climbing the Great Wall, for me, was a dream come true.Ā
Whilst the views were amazing, I couldn’t help wondering what on earth made the people who built the wall Ā thousands of years ago to do so. The wall snakes up and down the mountain and through tough terrains.Ā
At Mutianyu, not far from Beijing, the wall was up to 8.5 metres high and 5 metres wide and has 22 watch towers on its 2,250 metre long stretch. Ā Mutianyu is not as popular as Badaling which is the most visited part of the Great Wall. I preferred Mutianyu, not as crowded and no unnecessary distractions and the scenery is undoubtedly more stunning in my opinion.
Taking a cable car to about a third of the way up was most welcomed as climbing these uneven stairs in the heat of the midday sun would not have been a challenge for me.
This was not an easy climb not least because of the midday sun, also because of the steep stairs. I was getting very tired by this stage and decided to keep my head down.
Suddenly I hit the wall. You know when marathon runners say they ‘hit the wall’ and you wonder what that felt like. Well, I experienced something similar. As I looked up, I saw there was still some way to go. No, I was not going to give up. I continued relentlessly. I took shelter in the watch towers as I slowly worked my way up. Ā A number of people gave up or decided to just sit down for a while, or just stop and spend time admiring the view. Ā The view is amazing whichever way I looked. Ā
I made it- yeah! The last steep steps wereĀ treacherous and demanded every ounce of focus and stamina. I literally crawled up on all fours, praying I would not slip and bring down the people behind you in a domino effect.Ā
I was so excited to have reached the top that I didānt think when I was handed a flag and someone pointed a camera at me saying “smile Molly”. And instinctively smiled, holding the flag. One of my fellow travellers pointed out that I was holding the Chinese flag. What the heck, I was in China and on The Great Wall – Mollywozhere. It didn’t matter.Ā I didnāt just reach a destination ā I experienced it.
You can also read about Petra ā another awe-inspiring wonder .
Never too late…an inspiration. Great pics/blog. I miss the travel bug. Your posts have been a gift from heaven, never to late to fulfil a dream. My time will come.
Nope it is never too late. Your time will come, have no fear. The Great Wall of China must be on your list of places to visit. I highly recommend it. A trip of a lifetime.
Well done and keep having fun.
Thank you. I am making the most of my time on earth. I know you are too.
Thanks for sharing that beautiful moment..Looks very scary to climb on that top of the mountain. This is a great achievement. Interesting. Thank you.
Thank you very much. It was an unforgettable experience.
Well done Molly but I would not have expected less of YOU. It is on my list for the next time I am on this amazing earth.
Most definitely, you will love it! And thank you for your support, I appreciate it.
You so beautiful like queen šø
Thank you Karen.
Thank you very much.
Well done Molly! you’ve succeeded in making me curious. I have included China on my list of countries to visit.
Excellent Remi. Great news. I am pleased to hear that. You will love it.
š® Wow. You did ever so well.
Thank you Alero. This was one of my most memorable moments in China.