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Live like a prince, or a peasant, on the Great Wall |
Escape the madding crowd with an overnight stay at this wonder of the world A stunning sight of snow-covered Jiankou ruins of the Great Wall of China Photo credit: Derek Wang Ping The Great Wall of China barely needs introduction. Having seen the rise and fall of no fewer than 20 imperial dynasties and with parts along its sinewy length as ancient as 2,000 years old, this world famous structure is a standard stop on the itinerary of any traveller to the Middle Kingdom. What is not so well known is that visitors to China can choose to spend a night or more if they wish at the Great Wall. There's a whole range of accommodations from luxurious villas that are architectural gems in themselves, to a rugged night under the stars in a peasant's farmhouse. Not so Old School after all From an abandoned school house to a thriving cluster of sustainable businesses Photo credit: The Schoolhouse Working with local villagers in the vicinity, Spear has built up a network of small-scale businesses including boutique hotels, lodgings and restaurants that are staffed by employees hired from the community.  Like a dragon's spine, the Mutianyu wall snakes across a mountain Photo credit: The Schoolhouse  A private dining affair at The Schoolhouse Photo credit: The Schoolhouse As the now oft-heard story goes, on one of his many visits, Spear was approached by a local villager trying to sell him a T-shirt. They chatted and the vendor ended up helping him to buy a rural house in a nearby village. Ten years on, Spear's project has gained the support of even the Beijing government for its success in re-invigorating a rural community. In fact, the name "The Schoolhouse" refers to an actual school that was abandoned after residents began leaving for the cities, with their children in tow. The building now houses a restaurant, an art gallery and a glass studio. "We hire local employees on a long-term basis and procure goods and services from other local individuals and businesses,'' Spear told INSIDE in an email interview in July. "We also grow our own food to the extent possible and make foods homemade from scratch."  One of the guest rooms at The Schoolhouse Photo credit: The Schoolhouse Ranging from approximately US$263 to US$614 (RMB1,800 to RMB4,200) per night, the villas blend into the rustic surroundings but are equipped with the most modern amenities. Each comes with their own private gardens. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu Great Wall Tel: (+86) 10 61626506 www.theschoolhouseatmutianyu.com Walk on the wild side The precipitous climb to the top of Jiankou...  ...and the steep drop-off to the bottom Photo credit: Derek Wang Ping Just west of Mutianyu, this section was built during the Ming dynasty in 1368 along a mountain ridge. Jiankou is considered one of the most perilous sections of the Great Wall as it hasn't seen the scale of renovations that more common tourist spots like Badaling or Mutianyu have and is in close to "original" condition. This means that often along the one-hour climb to one of the observation towers, trekkers have barely much of a 'wall' between them and a steep tumble down the mountains. Trekking agency owner David Wang estimates the trek to be about 1,100 metres above sea level. "It is very risky to trek along this section of the Wall and you have to be very familiar with the route," Wang says. "Because of the danger, it is recommended that small groups travel with a guide."  The Jiankou Great Wall reaches a height of 1,100m above sea level  Trekkers hiking in deep winter Photo credit: Derek Wang Ping "I grew up here, was educated here," Wang says on his website. "If anyone knows his ways around the developing area, it is I." The route Wang leads hikers along lasts three to four hours, and is rated "moderate to severe" so a decent level of fitness is required. But the pain and sweat will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the misty mountainous setting and a "spectacular sight of the old Wall stretching ahead," Wang says. At the end of the trek, hunker down at a nongjiayuan or local farmhouse where you will be treated to simple peasant fare of home-grown vegetables and free-range chicken. A return trip to the Wall costs roughly US$292 (RMB2,000), including a night's stay in a single room and two meals. At night, turn in at one of the simple guestrooms on the farm and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of nature and farm animals outside. Great Wall Alternative: Tel: (+86) 10 63140530 www.greatwall-alternative.com Time for some pampering Each apartment is fully furnished with traditional ornaments for a unique and intimate feel. Relax at the sauna rooms and Jacuzzi, or simply watch a great movie on the home entertainment system. Bored of staying in the room? Head for the nearby Agricultural Exhibition Centre. Or if you have extra cash to spare, opt for a shopping session at Guiyou Department Store. Somerset Grand Fortune Garden, Beijing No 46 Liang Ma Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100125, China Telephone (86-10) 8451 8888 Fax (86-10) 8451 8866 Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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