China Days 14, 15, & 16 8/31/12
Busy days in Beijing. First day we got up early and headed to the Great Wall. What an adventure. I was a little worried about the haze, but by the time we got out of the city and to the wall, the skies were blue. Much like many of our big tourist attractions, the entrance is lined with souvenir shops, hotels, and fast food including KFC, Subway, and Pizza Hut.
The crowds on the wall were crazy and I'm glad that we got there early. We visited the Badiling section of the wall. In total it stretches about 3000 miles, but only a few locations are open. It sounds like much of the wall is in some disrepair. I made it ate a ways in the wall, but not quite to the end. Always my luck, just about there but not quite.
From the wall, we stopped for lunch at a jade factory. These people have the whole gift shop idea down pat. Most of the items were extremely expensive and rather gaudy...so for me it all stayed there. Really, how many life size tigers can one have in front of ones house? Besides, I doubt that the HOA would approve.
After lunch, on to the Ming Dynasty Tombs. I thought we'd get to explore a tomb, but then I should have remembered that this is not the Indian Jones edition tour. We did walk down the emperors way, which is lined with limestone statues dating back some 600 years. Interesting, but it still would have been fun to run the gauntlet through a tomb.
Back to the hotel with a little rest and then the Peking Duck dinner and Peking Opera. Dinner was good. Duck was interesting although I think it was still a bit westernized. Given that most of the folks on the tour are over 60, the food has been pretty bland. Along with the duck, we did get some authentic Kung poa shrimp.
Thursday morning...my birthday in Beijing! Up early again and off to tianiamein (sp), the forbidden city, and the summer place. Four miles of walking in the heat, humidity, and pollution. It's so bad that you can barely see a few blocks away. I know that Beijing is a large city, but you could hardly tell for all the fog/smog. Talked mom in to using a wheelchair so that we could both enjoy the tours today. It worked well. T square is massive...almost beyond description. Would have liked to gone through Mao's mausoleum but it was not on the schedule. The forbidden city is equally huge. They had started to do some restoration, but have stopped for now. I suspect that it's no longer important with the 2008 olympics in the past ad the world is no longer watching.
On the return trip to the hotel we did a drive by of the Olympic Birds Nest, Cube, and other venues.
The hotel sent up a birthday cake, which was very nice. Took it down to dinner and shared with some of the people we've met on the trip. Many of them go home in the morning, but we are on to Guilin and Hong Kong. Hoping for somewhat clearer skies.
I must say that Beijing was a bit disappointing. Not because of what there is to see, but the pollution is so bad that you can taste and feel it. Kind of makes you want to stay inside.
