A fascination with Beijing that started over thirty years ago
Along with the Forbidden City another 'must see/must experience' in Beijing remains a visit the Great Wall. In 1987 a segment at Badaling was open for visitors. Some sections along the pass up from the city had not at that time been renovated for again the number of visitors again was not great. The route out followed a conventional highway for it would be many years before today's expressway was constructed. It proved fascinating journey, passing many villages of traditional stone-built homes often with courtyards. China then was more rural than urban. It was surprising how beautiful the countryside became, particularly after Nankou, as the road entered a steep-sided often narrow valley. On the slopes to the east of the highway ran the single-track railway line that had carried my train two days previously. That railway, dating from 1909, remains a major domestic engineering achievement when it connected Beijing with Zhangjiakou.