Trashing the path less trodden

One of the best things about spring in Beijing is the number of hiking options just a short car ride away.

Picture taking in the refreshing panorama of the Huairou and Miyun reservoirs, or winding along the relaxing paths of the Western Hills - what better way to help heal the stress built up from another intense workweek?

As such, The Great Wall must count as the top choice for many weekend hikers because of its endless array of trekking possibilities.

With that mind, I set off with friends last weekend for a rejuvenating day of outdoor fun at one of the Wall's most famous sections - the Jiankou climb.

Talk about biting more than I could chew.

For starters, we loaded up on a hearty brunch of local farmers' fare or nong jia cai, deliciously washed down with beer. This was before we launched our "attack" on the Arrow Nock section, infamous for being among the toughest Wall climbs.

Forget the tourist crowds packing the cable cars of the Badaling section, or the tacky souvenir stands lining the renovated steps of the Mutianyu part of the Wall, Jiankou is the real deal.

This section is no walk in the park because there seems to be a lack of designated paths on the steep mountain slopes leading up to the wall fortifications, perched high on the mountain ridge.

Parts of the climb already point to its level of difficulty. There is the Stair to Heaven, or Tian Ti, precipitous steps inclined at up to 80 degrees. Or consider the Ying Fei Dao Yang observation tower, where an Eagle Flying Faced Upward is used to describe the incredible height involved.