"I was the only one in my group to go through with getting off the ledge, and now I can say I jumped off the Great Wall and survived!"
How I did it: I went with a Study Abroad group for 3 weeks to China, and we spent our last four days in Beijing. Simatai is a section of the Great Wall a couple hours outside of Beijing that offers zip-lining at only 40 yuan, so a little less than $6 USD, which also included the boat road back to the entrance. I took a tour bus from my hotel (Jade Garden Hotel) and prepared myself for the jump! I was the only one in my group who was able to actually swing themselves off. Next leap: skydiving!
Lessons & tips: The downside of going to zip-line from the Great Wall is that you have vendors who follow you around, and keep trying to sell you things, even if you tell them off in Mandarin. I would suggest making sure you use a tough city attitude. When I went, I had a vendor follow me to the ramp and continue trying to shove magazines in my face even while I was being hooked up and strapped to the wire. I also suggest ensuring, if you're worried about safety, to go with at least one person. China isn't as dangerous as many Western countries when concerning violence, but it is always good to be on the safe side. A big lesson I can tell you is to make sure you have someone to film or take a picture of it. The rest of my group took a cable car down, and no one was there to film me or take a picture of me while I was zip-lining, so all I have are the breath taking memories of watching the light cascade along the Great Wall and the lake below, but I have no way to show my family and friends the picture of me mid-air, kicking my feet back up forth that made the attendants helping me on the platform laugh.
Resources: Make sure you call around to different tour places to get the best rate possible on the ride up to Simatai, and don't let them overcharge you!
Jun 02, 04:15AM PDT
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