Why I didnt visit the Great Wall of China

By Deborah Baker August 29, 2015 Asia, Travel 22 Comments

Why I didn’t visit the Great Wall in China

Most people who visit China would include The Great Wall on their itinerary. I did consider this option which meant I would be staying in Beijing for a few days. Beijing’s population is 24 million people and polluted.

I was travelling to China on my own and I was nervous about visiting such a populated city. I am quite claustrophobic and I don’t like large crowds of people. I also had my heart set on Yangshuo and Lijiang which is a long way from Beijing.

The reason why I visited China

I inherited a small amount of money and decided to spend it on travel. I had traveled before getting married and having children, but whilst bringing up three boys we could only afford trips around New Zealand.

A film called ‘The Painted Veil’ inspired me to visit China, based on the 1925 novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Set in the 1930’s and filmed in London, Shanghai and Huangyao Ancient Town, Guangxi Province. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts were the main stars. One of the first scenes of the film featured an amazing landscape of Karst Mountains.

Below is links to posts on Yangshuo and Huangyao Ancient town where the movie was filmed.

Yangshuo

Huangyao Ancient Town

Tagged on: Asia, China

22 thoughts on “Why I didnt visit the Great Wall of China”

gradmama August 30, 2015 at 5:33 am

great job on the site…I love the photos and lay-out. Nice theme!

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1. Deborah Baker Post authorAugust 30, 2015 at 1:55 pm
  
  Thank You! I pay for the theme and added some design elements to give it some colour.
  
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Alex August 30, 2015 at 7:32 pm

Having been to China and visited the great wall i was interested to hear why you didn’t go. I loved being in Beijing and the wall is actually a fair distance out of the city and you can go visit it in three different spots some less touristy than others. I would have loved to have visited some of the more rural parts though. Oh well that’ll be for the next trip i take there.

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Cathy Dutchak August 31, 2015 at 12:09 am

I lived in Guangxi province over the last year and went to Yangshuo three times. I was also inspired by the Painted Veil to travel in this area. I went to the Great Wall in Beijing in 2010 and it was so packed with people that we couldn’t even move!! You made a good decision! I hope you enjoyed Yangshuo! 🙂

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Tricia September 25, 2015 at 7:48 am

I know next to nothing about visiting China. Can you only visit the wall in Beijing?

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Janice Wald September 28, 2015 at 4:15 pm

Hi Lemonpath,
I am going next summer. I teach it; excited to climb it. Thanks for bringing this to last week’s Inspire Me Monday linky party.
Janice

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Dai October 4, 2015 at 5:45 pm

Nice design. I mean your website. Thanks for adding me, Lemonpath.. I’ve been to a lot of places in China, including Beijing and Yangshuo. My best times in China were during those very long train trips where we met many Chinese people, chatted with them, drank with them, taught them to play Canasta and shared our food. I’m not much of a traveller these days but I would love to visit Burma.

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Tanja (the Red phone box travels) November 15, 2015 at 10:19 pm

I saw that film, it’s very good. Good luck on your travels # outside suburbia link up

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Hannah November 18, 2015 at 5:30 pm

You are from NZ?! Me too! although I am now living in Japan after being in the UK for 6 years!! Literally today I was just thinking about a visit to China! I have never heard of the Painted Vail but I will definitely look into it now. Found you through #Outsidesuburbia

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1. Deborah Baker Post authorNovember 18, 2015 at 5:38 pm
  
  Hi Hannah, I am originally from the UK, and have lived in NZ for a long time. Painted Veil is a great movie will lovely scenary. Have a Good Day. Debz
  
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Elizabeth November 20, 2015 at 3:58 am

Beautiful location and movie! I can see why many people aren’t interested in the Great Wall when there is so much more beauty in other areas of the country. Happy Travels! #OutsideSuburbia

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1. Deborah Baker Post authorNovember 20, 2015 at 3:02 pm
  
  Thank you Elizabeth!
  
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Danielle Desir November 21, 2015 at 4:30 pm

If you go to China again, would you consider going to the Great Wall next time?

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1. Deborah Baker Post authorNovember 21, 2015 at 4:37 pm
  
  Yes I would visit the Great Wall. If I visited China again I would be more confident. There was so many places I wanted to see, but China is a big country. I would also like to see The Terracota Army!
  
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Barb December 8, 2015 at 10:12 am

I visited China a long time ago in the mid-80-s when it had just opened its doors to outside visitors. It was quite a step back in time – a wonderful experience. This area you visited looks very scenic.

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artmusedog and carol December 8, 2015 at 11:30 am

Very creative post and photography ~ love the current scenes of China

I agree Beijing is very polluted and the Great Wall is a big tourist trap ~ but a sight to see

Wishing you the magic and love the season, xox
artmusedog and carol

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Eileen December 9, 2015 at 2:49 am

Hello, your blog is lovely. Wonderful post and beautiful images. The scenery is gorgeous.
Have a happy week ahead!

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1. Deborah Baker Post authorDecember 9, 2015 at 7:51 pm
  
  Thank You Eileen, hope you have a good week too!
  
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Johanna Bradley June 18, 2016 at 7:35 pm

The landscape is incredible, isn’t it? I followed Cathy’s travels with awe. 🙂

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Michele July 2, 2016 at 10:37 am

I love that movie!!!

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aholeinmyshoe (@a_holeinmyshoe) October 30, 2016 at 3:58 pm

You write the most genuine and authentic posts Deborah… off to download The Painted Veil for some more inspiration for my trip to China.

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1. Lemonpath October 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm
  
  Hi Lyn, Thank You for the kind comments. You’ll love the movie!
  
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