Daniel Dumbrill
Onward from the Great Wall, we continued north for 350km and stopped overnight near the Shangdu ruins, camping out in traditional Mongolian yurts on the vast grasslands. This area preserves the remains of Kublai Khan’s legendary summer capital of the Yuan Dynasty, known in the West as Xanadu. Designed in 1256 by his Chinese advisor Liu Bingzhong, it first served as Kublai’s capital from 1263 to 1273. After he moved the main capital to Dadu (modern Beijing, then Khanbaliq) in 1271 with the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, Shangdu became the summer capital where the court would retreat during the warmer months. Though we didn’t enter the Yuanshangdu Ruins Scenic Area itself, sleeping in yurts on the grasslands right beside Shangdu was quite a profound experience. It's impossible not to feel a connection to this important chapter of Chinese history while wandering around these grasslands.
Daniel Dumbrill
Jinshanling Great Wall (金山岭长城) was our first stop after Beijing — I’d have to say my favorite section of the great wall so far. This was a 150km journey north of Beijing, not including two short stops. One into a mechanic to diagnost our check engine light, it turned out to be a low Adblue/Eurea warning light that didn't clear itself out after refilling. The other stop was into a gigantic Sam's Club with a huge outdoor parking lot that made me feel like I was back in North America. Jinshanling Great Wall is tucked right on the Beijing-Hebei border, this stretch feels peaceful compared to the busier parts of the wall. There’s a well-maintained restored section that’s easy to walk, but what really makes it special are the rugged, unrestored stretches you can reach on foot from the nearby village. The whole area is dotted with nicely kept homestays, making it easy to base yourself here and explore at your own pace. Construction began in the early Ming Dynasty around 1368, with major rebuilding and enhancements between 1567–1570. The result is a beautiful mix of history and raw mountain scenery that feels far more authentic.
