For a start it is MASSIVE! and so so steep! I was honestly not expecting it to be such hard work walking up and down it but my legs were hurting for the next two days. Around an hour or so drive outside the city (cue us trying to negotiate a taxi at a non ridiculous 'rip you off because you are tourists' fee). Beautiful views and just mind boggling how on earth they built it in the first place!! Im ridiculously happy to have ticked this off my to-do list and would definitely like to visit again, Im thinking in the colder months with a big coat and chunky boots.

I of course bought the obligatory 'I climbed the great wall' t-shirt and a fantastically tacky snow globe with a mini wall inside lol.
Buying anything in China however is just hassle, I want to be able to go into a shop, see the price, make a decision, and buy or not. In these little stores you have to haggle your life for everything and the seller gets all in your face 'missy missy please look at this, ah you like this I show you another' - after you slightly show an interest in something, super annoying! so the conversation with the wall shizzle seller went like this:

Me (pick up a mug): can I get one of these pls
Her: Ah missy you like this, pls look at this one very pretty very good price
Me: No thanks, just this one is ok thanks.. one please
Her: we also have other colours, maybe you buy set?
Me: No thanks, just this one is ok thanks... one please

Me (pick up a tshirt): can I get one of these pls
Her: Ah missy you like this, pls look at this one very pretty very good price

etc etc etc until all items are selected and then....

Me: Ok, how much?
Her: ok for you, a very pretty lady, I give you a very pretty price
Me: uh huh... how much?
Her (types into calculator) 500Y - (thats about 45quid!)
Me: (laughing) dont be ridiculous, thats a stupid price and you know it.. do I look stupid?
Her: No no no.. ok ok I see you are smart lady, I give you smart price to match
Me: Uh huh... how much?
Her (types into calculator) 320Y - thats about 30quid, and we are talking about a mug, crap tshirt and even crappier snowglobe!
Me: No, ok I am going to offer you my price i want to pay... 50Y
Her: (in loud voice) oh my god, it is impossible, you try to cheat me, i need to feed my family etc etc
Me: Its a damn good price and you know it, you know I could get it for 30Y but im being nice cos im on holiday and tired after my monster work out on the wall
Her: no no no my children will starve at these silly prices you offer
Me: Ok then bye bye
(start walking away... get about 10feet away)...
Her: hello miss... ok ok 50Y (looking unhappy)

she wouldnt sell it to me unless she was making a mark up on it, i just find it exhausting to have to go through this procedure every time, always the same!! Quite amusing also, and I bet tonnes of tourists pay the silly prices they try, fair play I say in one purchase with a tourist who knows no better they could earn the equivalent of a months full time wages!!
So if it all goes wrong in hk, I have a back up plan hustling tourists lol
xx