Sports fans take to the great outdoors again
Rubbish removed
Like Wang, other outdoor sports fans are obeying the unwritten rules of environmental protection.
The 20-km-long Jiankou section of the Great Wall is known as one of the most dangerous outdoor hiking destinations.
Battered by years of wind and rain, it has fallen into disrepair, and visitors ascend it using their hands and feet to climb rough steps.
In 2013, a group of climbers calling themselves "the Giant Gooo-go Great Wall" started to visit the Jiankou section every Saturday to remove rubbish. They also used plastic bottles and cans they picked up to make badges printed with the group's logo.
The section was recently closed to climbers for the government to carry out repair work in an effort to restore the original appearance.
Zou Yi, 59, organizer of the volunteer group, said: "After seven years, we're glad that when we say farewell to Jiankou, it will be much cleaner and prettier than before, and that our work has impacted many others. We're a group of warm-hearted volunteers of different ages from home and abroad."
He said familiar routes are always the safest option, and volunteers help each other, especially newcomers.
Xu Guomei, 66, made her first trip to the Jiankou section with her daughter in 2013. She quickly fell in love with the picturesque area and became a member of the group.
"At first, I didn't understand why they were taking such a huge risk in climbing Jiankou, but after I gained first-hand experience, I understood this immediately," said Xu, who became a yoga teacher when she retired at age 50. Later, her husband joined the group to climb the section.
In the first few years, group members had to return with three or four bags of rubbish, including plastic bottles, cans, food packaging and cigarette ends.
However, for the past two years, team members have only visited the section once a month, as the amount of rubbish has fallen significantly.
Xu said: "You can't be too careful, because it's dangerous to gather rubbish in places that are out of reach. Sometimes you have to use a rope or branch to get it.
"Our aim in visiting Jiankou is very simple-to collect rubbish. We're glad that our actions have impacted others, as climbers often imitate us when they see what we're doing.
"When people drop litter on Jiankou, they're hurting the next generation."
During festivals, the group sends daily necessities such as rice and cooking oil to families in financial difficulty in Xizhazi village, which lies at the foot of the Jiankou section.
In 2014, Yuan Fangchen, a middle-aged lawyer from Beijing, started to bring his 8-year-old son to Jiankou with the volunteer group. Yuan used to visit the section once a month and also went there with his wife and son several times a year.
"When my son first visited Jiankou, on seeing the steep cliffs, he was afraid to go one step further. I held his hand gently and encouraged him to ascend slowly with me. He soon learned the skills and started to enjoy it," Yuan said.
"Our regular visits to Jiankou have benefited my son greatly and have also been an opportunity for our family of three to enjoy life together."
Yuan said the visits to Jiankou have taught his son not to drop litter. The boy has also improved his spoken English, as sometimes they meet foreigners in the area.
"Jiankou is one of the most beautiful parts of the Great Wall in Beijing. The scenery differs throughout the year, and each time we visit it, we make new friends," he said.
"The Great Wall represents the Chinese spirit. Jiankou is a platform for those who love getting together. When we gather there, especially during holidays, we feel a strength of unity and patriotism."