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Great Wall of China (18)
banyanman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1333 W: 114 N: 2592] (7490)
This photograph of the Great Wall of China was taken at Simatai, about 110 km north of Beijing. There are not the usual hordes of tourists at Simatai, as there are at other sections of the Great Wall, because the climbs to the wall in this area can be quite strenuous, and the fact that it is a 6 hour round trip from Beijing.

It is worth making the effort to go to Simatai because this section of the Great Wall is in its original state and provides a much more ‘real’ Great Wall experience.

The Badaling section of the Great Wall that is most popular with day trippers from Beijing (about an hour to the west) is reconstructed and has a Disneyland feel about it. At Simatai you can sit alone on the Great Wall and take in magnificent views like this. In this shot I tried to capture the isolation of this mountainous region and the grandeur of the Great Wall as it hugs the mountain ridges for as far as the eye can see. It is a breathtaking sight to which no photograph can really do justice.
Altered Image #1

banyanman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1333 W: 114 N: 2592] (7490)
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Edited by:Typhon Silver Star Critiquer [C: 14 W: 3 N: 7] (176)
I was just bored, exams so boring :).
Maybe is your pic more realistic, I wasn't there at that moment but I made a workshop to see how it looks with less smog/fog.
Things done:
Auto Levels, reduced to 50%
NIK Polarisator
NIK sunshine effect, reduced to about 30%
ad a bit more contrast
Sharper, reduced to 20%