Mutianyu Great Wall
 Mutianyu Great Wall |
 Mutianyu Great Wall |
Originally built in the sixth century, Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the most popular sites for today’s tourists. It is also one of the closest, located about 56 miles (90 kilometers) from downtown Beijing. As a result, Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the wall’s most overdeveloped and crowded sections. Nevertheless, once you climb the wall and move away from the crowds, it offers picturesque views of the Beijing great wall and the surrounding countryside.
 Mutianyu Great Wall |
 Mutianyu Great Wall |
The portion of the wall located at Mutianyu Great Wall was given renewed attention after the fall of the Yuan dynasty in 1368, when the new Ming government focused its attention on security along the northern border. This section, which is just a mile long (1.6 km), was repaired and expanded twice during this period, first in the 14th century and then again in 1570, when the structure grew to the size you see today. You can take a cable car to the top of the wall, and then slide back down again on a small toboggan track.
