Beijing, China
July 8th

“He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true Man”
Mao Zedong

After a great sleep and wonderful breakfast we left for a full day that included a visit to the Great Wall of China. After spending about an hour in morning traffic, where the massive scale of Beijing grows with each drive, we were off to a shape museum/shop. Along the way we watched as brand new buses and cars shared streets and highways with older, well worn bicycles and other more inventive and interesting modes of transportation.

Not sure what to call this vehicle

Upon arrival were given an information session on the history, quality, and workmanship of jade by Linda our tour guide. She was a turn task master and I was reprimanded a few times. Afterwards we were “allowed” to shop in the State owned jade store. For communists the Chinese are quite good at capitalism!

Jade craftsman at work.

After stimulating the Chinese economy we went to the burial tomb of the Ming Emperors. It is located a short drive from Beijing. It was located in a valley that was chosen for its Feng Shui. The person chose the location due the fact that valley protect one from winds that “take away good spirits and bring bad ones”. The location was also chosen because it had a couple of rivers flow through the valley and rivers bring good things to an area. The tomb was beautiful.

On the way out of the tomb and on to the bus we were met by the usual throng of Chinese wanting to sell us bobbles, trinkets, and commemorative crap. As I walked to the line of kiosks a woman wanted to sell my some I heart China T-Shirt. I pointed to my belly and stated, “Too big, too big.” I disregard and keep moving on thinking my ploy of no correct size is going to dissuade her. Well as soon as I say this she tear off behind her kiosk screaming something in Chinese to her merry band of T-shirt hawkers. Well she then pulls out a XXXXXL-Shirt, no exaggeration. She had obviously dealt with Americans before. So the she grabs my arm starts pulling me towards her stand. I am trying to walk back to the bus which she interprets as ploy to drive down the price of this mammoth T-shirt. So as I walk up the steps on our bus the old lady rears up her hand and spanks my ass. Well this scene sent our group into hysterics. I had not laughed that hard in a long time. They lady herself was not all that mad because she was smiling and laughing also. Odd story but a good time.

After touring the grounds of the tomb we convinced the tour guide to allowed us to walk a one mile stretch along the way to the burial palace but slightly off the road. The walk way is known as the Sacred Way. It is a fantastic one mile promenade that is lined on both sides by massive stone statues that are around 450 years old. The whole group did not go because it began to pour rain. As for me I of course went. Rain never hurt anyone and really I did not come to China to stay dry. Ironically enough the rain and its accompanying mist gave the walk a rather ethereal quality. The rain also made the venue quite desolate besides our reduced group. The stone structures comprised of warriors and animals. For example as you walk down the path you pass directly between two elephants standing up. A few yards down you pass between two elephants again, only this time they are kneeling. This effect is done to give the effect of animals bowing to the emperor as he passes by them. A little wet; but well worth short walk.

Ming Tombs

After our stroll along the Sacred Way we went to lunch. We enjoyed a couple of toasts with 112 proof sorghum “schnapps”. It was not smooth as hoped. Maybe it was wrong to take a couple of shots before heading to climb the Great Wall. We shall see. The group had fun. All of us are an odd and fun group; I count myself as one of the typical characters.

You want me on that wall; you need me on that wall. Ever since we studied China in K-Dog’s(Mr. De Marco) Honors World History class my sophomore year at Erie Prep I wanted to see and climb the Great Wall of China. (For those scoring at home it took four days in China to use a Prep reference) The rainy day subsided and although quite misty it made for a much cooler hike. The temperature drop was much appreciated by this chubby guy. The Great Wall is even more impressive in person. The fog and mist greatly reduced visibility but did nothing to diminish accomplishment. It was an extremely hard hike up the Wall. The portion of the Great Wall that we visited offers two hiking options. The majority of our group, me included, took the harder but more rewarding choice. Foggy mist literally rolled past us on the higher portions of the wall. After a short pause to rest my legs and curse my lack of healthy choices the last fifteen years we began our descent which was different but no less difficult than the climb up. Once I reached the bottom I enjoyed a well deserved Tsingtao beer. The experience of hiking the Great Wall deadened the aching pains in my knees and calves.

That is quite steep

Pete Down! Pete Down! Give me wings and beer, STAT!

The group then took in a performance that was described to us as the Chinese version of Riverdance. It was called the Legend of Kung Fu performance. It was part martial arts, part ballet, part Broadway, and part folk tale. It was entertaining all the way around.

After the performance we enjoyed a Peking Duck dinner and then fell asleep moments after returning to the hotel. Tomorrow we leave Beijing behind as we take a flight on China Express Airlines to Xian to see the Terra Cotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang Di.

Link to photos from Day 2 in Beijing