Greatest Wall

7/18/2013 - Beijing, China

Our tour through Beijing was full of superlatives and comparisons. "China is the world's largest country!" "Oldest history!" "The Great Wall is longer than the length of the United States!" "Biggest wooden structure in the world!" I was afraid our tour guide would pound his chest about China's superiority throughout the entire tour.

Once we got to the top of the Great Wall, it spoke for itself. It exceeded my high expectations. As I walked from one hill to the other, I saw more and more Great Wall through the mountains.

We joked about the name "Great Wall" throughout the day, at once saying, "This Great Wall is sure better than that other wall." Compared to all the superlatives we had heard, "Great Wall" really is an understatement.

Pictured: View from the Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section)