I’m visiting the William Lindesay family in China for two weeks as they take me to points all along the entire Great Wall. You can read the backstory at my website or here on my blog along with all my posts while in China.

Tangzigou, China
Saturday, September 19, 2026
11:20 PM

Another astounding day! Especially at the end.

Things were hopping the moment I woke walked out the door of our room at 7:30. A TV crew was already setting up to interview William Lindesay.

They interviewed me at 9:30.

Last up was Qi who was interviewed around 11:00.

After the interviews were all done, David & I enjoyed the first extended break of the trip. It was heavenly sitting in the Barracks’ courtyard for about 90 minutes enjoying the sun and breeze.

At 3:30 it was time to leave The Barracks for a 5-hour drive here to Tangzigou where I write this evening. This was a key stopping point on William Edgar Geil’s walk across the Great Wall in 1908. He spent two days here taking historic photographs.

The Great Wall Protection Station

The drive itself was an experience. China’s highways go for miles through mountain tunnels. We went through a series of tunnels that seemed endless, going on and on. Then, off the highway at the end, we traveled a long single-lane road, extremely rugged and bumpy. It was dark by this time, but looking out the window rocks towered above us right from the edge of the road.

Finally we reached a building where we were greeted by a small contingent of people — and that TV crew again from this morning. They had apparently gotten here before us to film our arrival. A drone hovered overhead, also filming?

We learned that we are at the Great Wall Protection Station, dedicated obviously to the Great Wall — and also to the work and legacy of my grandfather.

There’s even ‘The Geil Room’ where David and I are sleeping tonight.

Downstairs there is a large meeting room, several small rooms and work stations, and a museum dedicated to Geil.

It’s all pretty mind blowing. I’m only scratching the surface here, and there’s really a lot I have yet to learn.

Tomorrow promises to be an exciting day as we explore the area.