Dear Readers,
I wasn't content with the idea of visiting a touristy section of the Great Wall, so I set out with two young Americans (the boyfriend of my friend Alice and his brother) with a driver to a remote area of the Wall that is technically closed to the public. However, if you pay a local farmer Y2 (30 US cents) he'll show you where the rickety ladder is that allows you to scale one of the guard towers (under the charade that you're just paying to see his "chestnut orchard" so he doesn't get in trouble with the authorities).
"Huang Hua Cheng" means "yellow flower" but unfortunately it was too early in the season to see this section of the Wall immersed in the famous sea of yellow flowers. But we were still able to enjoy the unique aspects of this part of the Wall (which was built during the Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644) like the way it's interrupted by the Huang Hua Cheng Reservoir. Also: no tourists.
For more info and photos of my trip to the Wall, please visit my post here on A Shaded View on Fashion.
Love,
Glenn
