The Great Wall beyond the crowds

4. Zhenbeitai Tower in Yulin, Shaanxi province

Normally, it is the curving walls snaking through mountain ranges that form people's typical impressions of the Great Wall.

But the heritage covers not only the walls themselves but also passes, beacon towers and observation outposts.

Zhenbeitai in northern Shaanxi province stands as a large rammed-earth military observation tower and command post built during the Ming Dynasty.

The existing four-story structure, more than 30 meters high, offers a vivid lesson in military history.

The tower had several uses: first as barracks and storage; second for patrols and defense; third as a command center; and finally as a lookout station, providing distant views across the surrounding lands.

The compound can be explored by visitors wanting to better understand its defensive functions.

This scenic area is accessible to both the elderly and the very young, as the steps are gentle and easy to climb. From the top, the modern city of Yulin can be seen on one side and the Maowusu Desert on the other, creating the sensation of standing astride two worlds.

The remains of two ancient cities also exist here, where Mongolian people traded with their Han counterparts, suggesting that the post may have been more about commerce and administration than warfare, and that it helped maintain communication and exchange.

The site reminds us that the true Great Wall did not separate people with brick and stone, but connected them with trade, dialogue and ordinary people's aspirations for a peaceful life.