From my archives, in 1999 I went to the Great Wall at Simitai. My travel companion, Teresa was heart set on going to this portion of the wall. It was rawer, less developed. When we went hardly anyone was there. No souvenir stands, no real toilets (just stalls consisting of dirt holes in the ground). It was peaceful and majestic in a wabi sabi kind of well worn way.
Beijing Daily Photo 2 