Great Wall-Sunday 08-SEP

On the way off the elevator to breakfast, we saw another couple getting on, and asked “How was breakfast?”  The reply was, “Oh, you won’t like it!  There wasn’t much breakfast food!”  We thought that was a little odd, but when we got there, we found a rather decent selection of both Chinese and Western breakfast options.    There have been a fair number of complaints about the food on this trip, some justified, and some not at all!!

Ship carved from a single jade stone. (about 5 feet long)

 Our first “destination” was the Great Wall.  But, on the way, we stopped off at a Jade “factory”.  Well, these “factory” stores are a bit of a misnomer.  Really, they are a store that sells products probably direct from a factory, and they put a little show about how things were done traditionally, but not necessarily are done currently.  So, they showed us a few things, and then turned us loose on the store.  And turned the store sales personnel loose on us!  One interesting point was that all of the medals in the 2008 Olympics had jade set into the medal.  Also, jade is “translucent”.  That sort of depends on how thick it is, but if thin enough, many things are translucent. 

Just before we start the climb

We continued on to the Great Wall, at the Juyong Pass (Juyongguan).  Badaling is the most frequented location for tour groups, and is overcrowded and over commercialized (like an amusement park)!  We were happy that they brought us to another location!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View from the first guard tower

One of MANY sets of "stairs".

We started to ascend to the first Beacon Tower (#8).  The stairs were merciless.  They were steep, worn, uneven, and not constant!  Two steps were 15-18 inches high, then one was 3 or 4.  Then a few at 6 inches, and one at 9, and another at 12.  There was no way to get any rhythm.  By the first landing, Theresa was questioning whether she should continue.  By the second landing, it was decision time.  So, I left Theresa at the landing, and headed up the path on my own.  By the time I reached Tower 8, I was sure Theresa would not have enjoyed it, and I also discovered the next tower beyond it!  There was a little shopping area there, and I figured it should have been a declining price as we went up, but they had other notions!  Up and up I continued until it was time to come back.  It might not have ended until I reached Mongolia or so.  As I headed back down, I did not enjoy much of the view, because I had to constantly watch my steps, since they were so uneven and dangerous.  I cannot imagine the people that empty the trash, or had to patrol the wall, and even those who had to build it!  I cannot imagine carrying heavy loads all the way up there to lay the few bricks, and have to go back down for more!  It took me about 20 minutes to get back down.

The second "leg" from Guard Tower #8 to #9

Steps inside tower...a little worn!

Closer to the top than the bottom!

Restroom to the left...not 5 star!

Near the top for me...See the parking lot to the left?

After the Wall, we were taken to a place that makes enamelware.  It was mildly interesting, but overcrowded.  So, after the minimum tour, they took us upstairs for lunch.  It was another, what is becoming “typical”, “lazy susan” style lunch.  They bring a large selection of different things, but not a particularly large amount of them.  Regardless, there was ample food, and most of it pretty good.  The problem with the “lazy susan” is that, suppose you have 10 people around the table, and ten dishes, one in front of each of them.  What are the chances someone does not like what is in front of them?  What is the chance someone is taking what is in front of them?  At any given moment, there is almost always someone who wants the wheel to turn, and someone who does not.  So, it is a scramble to get food while it is there (or while it passes) and to get to the food you want, on the other side of the table!  Oh, and they do not give you anything to serve it with, so you use your chop sticks, or a fork if you get a hold of one.  And of ten people, chances are at least one person is at least partially inconsiderate.  But, it seems to be how they do it here, at least with tourist groups!

After lunch, we boarded the bus and headed to the Summer Palace.  This is the place where the Emperors would spend summers.  The whole place was destroyed in 1899, so the Empress Cixi decided to rebuild it with the 30 million silver (talents?) that was earmarked for building the Chinese navy.  Then it was destroyed again and rebuilt in (I think) 1906.  Our guide was mute on why or how it was destroyed, but given the immense size of the place, and numerous spread out buildings, I can’t see that its annihilation was anything but intended. 

The Lake at the Summer Palace

Cixi was one of the Emperor’s favorite concubines, and bore him a son.  So, after the Emperor died, she took control as their son was only 2 years old.  The Emperor is represented by the dragon, and the Empress is represented by the Peacock.  But, since Cixi served as the Emperor, she was referred to as the “Dragon Lady”.

The summer palace has a lake in the middle, and she liked to walk and look at the lake.  But, when it was raining, she didn’t like to get wet, so she had them build a covered walkway almost a mile long.  The entire length was adorned with paintings, on the pillars, the lintels, and the ceilings.  As she went along throughout life, if she saw a scene she liked, as she did not have a camera, she simply had someone paint that very scene for her, so she could keep the “picture”. 

Part of the walkway

Paintings on the walkway

Between walkway and lake

Temple at Summer Palace

One of the gates.  Note the sky/pollution.

Dinner!!

The rest of the evening was “on our own”.  We were dropped at the hotel, and given some options for where we might go for dinner (at our own expense).  There was a Sichuan (?) place very nearby, and our guide recommended it (along with a few other options, not just the hotel restaurant).  So, we made plans to go there with our friends.  As we got ready to go, a few other couples joined us, and we ended up with table of ten people (just like most of the provided dinners).  But, this time, we chose our own meals, and drinks.  Instead of a small 4 oz glass of beer, we got the whole 500 mL bottle for 20 yuan, or about $3.  Actually, it was a fun group, and we had some great laughs!

What I did NOT finish of my dinner!

I ordered a “Hot Stone Skillet Beef”, which looked good and I figured was spicy.  Well, when I ordered it, the waitress told me it was very spicy, and after I said, “Good!”, she was really impressed.  I found out why!  First, I figured it was served in a stone skillet, which was hot.  No, it was served in a skillet, with hot stones!  I figured that out as I put the first load of food on my plate and a pebble hit the plate!  Actually, the first one I thought was a horrible mistake, but the second one, I put it together!  If you are familiar with supposed “spicy” Asian dishes, and the little red peppers they add, you might appreciate this.  You know how they usually add a few peppers for seasoning?  Well, this wasn’t seasoning, it was a major ingredient!  I ate most of the dish, but not all!  Theresa was much more tame with her order, and simply got fried rice.  The whole thing, with more food than we could finish, and a beer and two bottles of water came to about 130 Yuan (or about $20).

Tiananmen Square and Mao's Mausoleum with lone soldier.
(and a fire extinguisher) 

After dinner, we had planned to walk to Tiananmen  Square.  As it was long after dark, the square was closed, but we still walked there and took some night pictures.  Most of our dinner party came along, and Theresa found herself playing tour guide!  Once we got there, a few random drops chased half of the group back, and we followed not long afterwards.

One of the city gates by the square

City Gate with "Arrow" windows for archers