Modern China is a country whose ancient past is inextricably intertwined with its fast modernisation and progression. China’s capital city, Beijing, fully encompasses this paradox through the old and the new you will see around the city. The fascinating mix of winding hutongs and elegant sky scrapers is what makes Beijing such a compelling city.
(For more on what Beijing has to offer, then visit The Great Wall on LonelyPlanet.com )
We are very much looking forward to meeting and greeting our students who are lucky enough to be taking part in a summer camp in Beijing in 2016. So to inspire you even further, over the next few months we want to let you know a little more about some of the excursions you will be going on at our summer camp. Twice a week your cultural-immersion program will be brought to life when you discover some of Beijing’s top tourist attractions. We want to focus this week on one of the greatest examples of ancient Chinese structures, which is by far one of the world’s most brilliant wonders. Yes you guessed it- The Great Wall of China.
Having fun at the Great Wall
During a Beijing Summer Camp, our campers are transported to the Mùtiányù part of the Great Wall. This segment was first built by the Qi Dynasty some 1,400 years ago; in 1986 it was restored to great effect. The wall still retains some amazing original features, such as its ancient watchtowers or inner and outer parapets.
Campers get to experience the rich history of the wall in a variety of ways. They can choose to climb more than 1,000 steps to the top, or enjoy a scenic ride up by cable car all the way to the top. We spend the day taking in the breathtaking scenery and walking from one watch tower to the next. As if that is not enough, campers can choose to take an exhilarating toboggan ride all the way down at the end of the day. Campers can take in the beautiful Huairou Country, where this part of the wall is situated.
We pack plenty of food and water for our campers so that they can get the most out of the trip, have fun and of course be safe. We want it to be a truly special experience because as the famous saying goes:
不到长城非好汉
Bù dào Cháng Chéng fēi hǎohàn
He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true hero
The day at the Great Wall is always a memorable trip for our campers. At That’s Mandarin we love to hear how our campers feel about the camp and excursions. We asked them what they thought of the Great Wall excursion and here is what Egor, a Russian student had to say:
Egor enjoyed his day at the Great Wall!
This trip awaits you along with many more. Our summer camp in Beijing is looking forward to experiencing this with you in 2016! Still yearning for more information on the Great Wall? Why not check out this comprehensive guide to the Great Wall:
Group picture at the Great Wall
