My “Travel A – Z” Has My China “Wanderlust!”
I have embarked on a journey across the alphabet, highlighting a country with a certain letter – it helps my #wanderlust – the urge to see the world! My “Travel A – Z” series lands on the letter “C”, and a country I have never visited, but my wife Alex and I are planning to change that in the next few years…why?
Because of incredible sights like this!
Welcome To The Great Wall Of China!
Of course, a country as large as this one can never be covered in one trip – or one blog post – but here are a few things that call my name!
For me this is the most iconic thing about China, which is saying a lot about a country that is 3.6 million square miles!
Here’s a map of where the great wall is located. Here’s what Google told me: “the Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe.”
Oh, and it’s stunningly beautiful!
The total length of all sections of the Great Wall of China ever built adds up to about 13,171 miles, including overlapping sections that were rebuilt. The wall constructed during the Ming dynasty, the most well-preserved section, is about 5,499 miles long.
Our goal is to walk along enough of it to make it a “great hike!” Speaking of great hikes, China is known for a few that are like this!
Up For This Hike Into The Heavens?
Yes, these intrepid souls are hiking along the side of a sheer cliff wall, wearing harnesses and attached to the chain link embedded into the side of the mountain!
Welcome to Mt. Huashan, China!
Mount Hua is a located near the city of Huayin in the Shaazi Province in China.
It is the “Western Mountain” of the Five Great Mountains of China and has a long history of religious significance. Originally classified as having three peaks, in modern times it is classified as having five main peaks, the highest of which is the South Peak at 2,154.9 metres (7,070 ft).
Here’s what it looks like to hike it:
Wow!
Mount Hua is also called Huashan, its literal name, and nicknamed “Number One Steepest Mountain Under Heaven.”
As you can see, this is NOT for the faint of heart. Some would say it’s not for anybody, but it’s packed with people willing to give it a go, helped by those harnesses and attached buckles!
See this terrific tutorial here:
As the video explained, the route isn’t that long, and you are harnessed in for safety…but as one very aggravated viewer posted in the comments, it appears at times the videographer may not be buckled up properly as he is shooting, and that would indeed raise the danger level significantly!
I would PROBABLY hike at least a bit of it…China is known for wild hikes – and equally wild glass bridges like this:
I have shared many stories of these incredible bridges, which I would love to cross in person – yes, there is one that “cracks” when you are on it for an added thrill – and some that see to defy logic:
I mean, who wouldn’t want to get a few pictures from the top of that “wavy” bridge? You can see more of these incredible marvels here:
As you can see, there is so much to explore in China: and of course as a foodie I’d dig in to all the regional cuisines as well…like Chinese dumplings – a mainstay all across the country, and they have many names, including jiaozi, xiaolongbao, siu mai, baozi, wonton, har gow, and sheng jian bao.
I tried to make some at home during my “52 In 22” cooking challenge…here are the recipe for what I made:
I really want to go to the source and see how mine hold up!
As I said, considering that China is slightly larger than the US, it’s impossible to see more than a fraction of what it has to offer – but we would need to see their biggest and most colorful city for sure!
The wildly colorful skyline of Shanghai calls to me – what a fascinating city to explore. More than thirty million people live in China’s largest city. That’s almost as many as the number of Chinese who live here:
China’s Cave People!
This was a complete surprise to me: between 30 and 40 million people in China live in caves, which is more than anywhere else in the world. These cave dwellings are called “yaodongs!”
They are actually very modern and furnished! Click here for the whole story:
As you can see, there is so much to see and do, which is why China was my “C” choice in my “Travel A – Z” list!
Before this, I shared a magical time I had on an island off off the US coast:
Bermuda is such a special place, with pink sand beaches and my favorite boozy Bermuda Conch Chowder! See a recipe for the chowder and a tour of the beaches by clicking on my story here:
I started the series in Australia, where I travelled for work and got to see some incredible things like this, when I filmed my Host Sasha Grey learning to surf on the waves at iconic Bondi Beach:
You can see more of my adventures down under by clicking on my story here:
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Categories: China, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Like you John I would love to visit China and see the Great wall although you wouldn;t catch me on that scary hike reguardless of a harness ..A lovely informative post 🙂
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Thank you for the note!
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Did you know the only man-made structure on earth that can be seen from the moon is the Great Wall of China? Oh, those hikes…I’ll pass!
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Bondi Beach is incredible with fine white sand. We loved it. Hubby went diving at Great Barria Reef. We went to the Beijing section of the Great Wall. I just watched the video of China with the crazy hiking and glass-bottom bridges.
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Hi John, TC has been to China and seen the Great Wall and some other sites. He enjoyed it.
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I was very impressed with the Great Wall, and spent a half-day there including lunch. But check which part you are going to on the tour, as some sections can be incredibly crowded. It can also be hot there. I went in September 2000 and it was a very humid 33C that afternoon. (91F)
Best wishes, Pete.
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what amazing places, but, the high climbs, the cliffs – eek
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China would be awesome to visit. I would want to see The Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors.
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We went to both. Great experience.
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