At nearly 4,000 miles long, the Great Wall is the longest manmade structure in the world. It has a long history, too — the Chinese began building walls on their borders more than 2,000 years ago. In some sections, you can take a gondola, ride a “toboggan,” or even zip-line down from the Great Wall!

The wall is about 45 miles due north of Beijing. For busy businesspeople like you, hiring a private car or minivan and heading out to the Great Wall on your own may make good sense. Ask your local Chinese contacts or your travel agent back home to help you make the necessary arrangements.