Beijing is striving to make the host city as friendly as possible for Paralympic athletes by installing barrier-free facilities everywhere. Some must-see tourist spots such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden city have all been equipped with barrier-free facilities.

On Friday afternoon, around 20 American athletes toured Badaling, the section of the Great Wall closest to Beijing.

On Friday afternoon, around 20 American athletes toured Badaling, the section of the Great Wall closest to Beijing.

As an old Chinese saying goes, "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man".

And with the new improvements to the Badaling section, these Paralympic athletes might just be the first ever group of disabled people to get to the top of the Great Wall.

On Friday afternoon, around 20 American athletes toured Badaling, the section of the Great Wall closest to Beijing.

Disabled access includes two lifts and a wheelchair ramp to take people up the hillside. And from the top, they're afforded one of the best possible views of the man-made wonder and the surrounding countryside.

In line with China's motto for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, - "Two Games with Equal Splendor" - officials have endeavored to make Beijing and the co-host cities of Qingdao and Hong Kong as accessible as possible for Paralympians and spectators.

(CCTV September 6, 2008)