Near the town of Shanhaiguan, China, the Great Wall rises up out of the Yellow Sea.  Within just of few miles of coastal flat land, the Wall quickly winds its way into the nearby mountains beginning its long journey crossing the heart of China, and eventually disappears into the deserts of the Gansu Province, some 4,000 miles in the west.

The "Head of the Dragon" is somewhat popular with Chinese tourists.  As I made my way towards the mountains, a busload of tourists arrived to enjoy this peaceful and interesting archaeological site.  I was  happy to be out of their sight, not knowing it would be week later before I would have the chance to see another human being.  And little did I know that this would be the norm along this journey, days on end without even a glance of civilization.  Why in the heck did they even build a wall, and who was it meant to keep out?