祖國芸芸文化遺產中，論資排輩，萬里長城以其宏偉的規模、浩大的工程、精妙的建築和深遠的歷史，當老大之無愧。
事實上，長城給予中國人那種強烈的民族自豪感及普遍的認同感，己遠遠超出了作為一般名勝及遺跡的身份。
長城己被塑造成中國人的代表品牌，甚至中華精神靈魂的圖騰，是有所謂「不到長城非好漢」也。

可是，古代的萬里長城，作為軍事防禦設施，早已完成了它的歷史使命。
天災人禍加上日久失修，令這位老人家已彷如垂垂老矣的白鬚公，千瘡百孔，蒼白脆弱。
據報導，目前長城只剩三分之一修復和保護完好，長城的保護已經到了刻不容緩的地步。

今次踏足的金山嶺及司馬台長城，位於北京市密雲縣與河北省灤平縣交界的燕山山脈，自西而東連為一體，蜿蜒群山峻嶺三十多公里。
在明代萬里長城遺跡中，這段長城並不算最長，但卻是最具規模，而又最為壯觀的。

行程中，我們曾兩宿長城下，三踏長城上，與長城作了最長時間和最近距離的接觸。
沒有了八達嶺的人潮，我們任意地撫摸那強壯的巨臂；沒有了居庸關的擁擠，我們無阻地穿梭各蒼老的敵樓。
看到老人家脆弱的身軀，沒有了昔日的激烈胸懷，却多了幾分愁緒悲凉。


The Great Wall is inarguably one of the most important cultural relics of China.
Its prominance does not only rest on its architectural and historical values but also
its influence on Chinese culture and even national spirit.

Coming off the beaten track, in September 2005 we visited two relatively remote and deserted sections of the Great Wall
in Simatai and Jinshanling, both lying in the outskirt of Beijing at its border with Hebei Province.
These two sections were built during the Ming Dynasty more than 600 years ago and
were amongst the most spectacular Great Walls.

Having stepped on Great Wall three times, stayed underneath for two nights, and experienced both sunrise and sunset there,
we had the closest and longest ever contact with the Great Wall. How fantastic!