April 6, 2016 Sacred Way, Jade Factory, Great Wall of China

---

What a day! Our wake up call came at 6:30 am, which is three hours earlier than I usually get up for work! Once again we enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast buffet in our hotel, then out to the bus by 8:00 am for a full day of touring. Our first stop: The Scared Way.

As many of you know, the Chinese have a great respect for their elders both living and dead, we could learn a few things from that concept. Our touring family headed out to the tombs of the Emperors and Empresses of China from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. When we arrived in Beijing on Monday, the holiday called "Tomb Sweeping Day" was just ending. On this holiday you are expected to visit your ancestors to pay them respect and to clean their tomb, hence the name of the holiday. People come from all parts of the province to participate in this ritual respect for their elders. This tradition began long, long ago.

During the time of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the leaders were buried in tombs on a mountainside outside the city. A long, seven kilometer path, called the Sacred Way, led from the lower valley to the site of the tombs. Along the path, you were to pay respect to the deceased leaders and humble yourself before them. The path is lined with various trees in a pristine park like setting. Along the way are ancient carved statues of various animals such as: Lions, Camels, Elephants, and some mythical animals made up of the best part of five different animals. After the animals came some statues of what looked like priests. You passed through several gates, each signaling entry into a more holy ground. It was beautiful and a pleasant morning walk to help prepare us for the strenuous day ahead.

After our walk, we headed to the bus for our ride further out of the city and our visit to the Jade Factory. This is considered the obligatory stop on any tour whereever you travel: there is a factory making jewelery where you will always get the highest quality and the "lowest price."

Our tour began with a visit to the factory where we learned the story of Jade, considered by the Chinese a "living stone" since it changes over time. They told us about the years of training for the craftsmen, the differences in quality and more information than I needed. I wanted to shop!

Rick and I high tailed it out of the presentation and hit the shop. What a shop. There was Jade in every form color size and shape. They had carved jade, Jade fountains, Jade jewelery of every possible kind and quality. There were prices from a few dollars to a fountain valued at over $1million. My goal was to buy Cathy a Jade ring. With Rick in tow, I was off to complete my mission.

We did find a ring right off that was perfect and cost only $100 US, unfortunately the quality was really poor. I wanted only the best for my wife, so I asked to speak to the manager for some help on the best gift to buy. Now this is a ploy I often use, find something of low cost, ask for help from the manager so I can bypass the salesperson. You see in these shops negotiation is an art. If you don't do it well, you can pay hundreds of dollars more that you have to. Since I was an experienced negotiator, I knew the ropes; deal with the decision maker, hence the request to see the manager.

So the three of us searched high and low for the perfect ring and soon we had it down to three. My wife has dainty hands, so I wanted something small, yet elegant. After some discussion Rick convinced me to go with one of the three. Now the fun part, the price.

The list price on the ring was the equivalent of $580. A little pricey so I offered $200. The manager laughed, hit more keys on the calculator, and said $450. I laughed and said, "Look I am sure I can get others in our group to buy something if I show them what I bought, so I need a good price. Ok?" He came down to $400. I countered with $300 and that was my final offer, a phrase well worth remembering, as it signals that you are firm in your price. He tested me by saying $320. I acted most disappointed and handed him back the ring and began to walk away, when he said $300. The deal was done and Cathy had her ring.

Rick and I wondered around for awhile and came across Dick, who was working with a Sales girl who wanted more than $500 for a man's Jade ring. Dick was getting no where fast when I called over my friend the manager and asked him for his best price on the ring. Now this ring was real pricy, nearly $600, so I told him $300. He actually though about it hard for a moment and shook his head and said I can do $400. I pulled Dick aside and asked him what did he want to pay, top number. He replied "$375, no more. " I went back and said "My friend can only afford $350, his is retired and his funds are limited." Again the calculator and the reply $375 is the best I can do really." Dick soon had a new ring!

Walking along, I came across a ring that really fit me well. It was over $590. I called over the manager and said "Let's make this real simple $300." He smiled and said "Ok," and I had my new ring, hand made in China. Now of course with all the excitement Rick wanted a ring. He wanted a black Onyx stone. There were some real nice ones and he found one for about $600. Before I could say a word the manager said "I know $300 right?" I replied "Right." and the deal was struck.

Getting ready to head to lunch, we passed by Mike, who was trying to buy some pendants for some folks. He was having a tough time with the sales girl. He wanted two Jade pendants and she would not budge below $350. I called over my friend and we chatted a bit and I told him, "Look I moved $1000 plus for you can you really help me with this one?" He looked at the pieces, hit the calculator and came back with $225." I replied with $150 and he said no but I can do $175." Mike was OK with that so he had his pieces and we all headed to lunch with our new purchases secured.

Lunch was actually in a back room of the Jade factory. What a great idea. Separate you from a bunch of money in front, then fill you with food and beer in back. Brilliant!

Lunch again was a family style meal with more than 8 offerings. We had lemon chicken, rice, rice with vegatables, Sichuan chicken, dumplings, wontons, some kind of fried dough, pork balls and beef in a tomatoe blend. It was all delicious and way too much. When we were almost stuffed to the gills, they were still bringing out food! A plate of fried noodles unfortunately went untouched. During our lunch we had another Tea Ceremony. This time it was Dick who was the recipient of the hot tea. Obviously westerners are not used to a table with a spinning Lazy Susan in the middle. We either put our glasses too close, or let setting utensils hang out too far. In either case, when the table spring cups fall. This time into Dickson lap when I spun the Lazy Susan to get some chicken. We eventually waddled out to the bus for the ride to the Great Wall of China.

Now for those who do not know here are some facts. The wall was built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties to keep out the Mongols and others who wanted to attack the proviences. The wall was at one time 5000 miles long and is the only man made structure that can be seen from space. The wall is made of local resources, so some of it is earthen, some brick, some stone and some just piled rocks. There is a active drive to restore the wall, as it attracts tourists who happily spend much needed money. We went to a section of the wall not often visited, so it was uncrowded. It was also a section that had been restored using an much origional materials as possible.

Now you have to understand, visiting the Great Wall of China is not for the faint of heart, nor the weak. The wall is up in a mountain region, so to begin the air is a little thin. You park at the very bottom of a valley and have to walk up, and I do mean up, a steep incline/step combination to a coach that brings you to the next level. Then you have to walk up again a steep incline to get to the cable car that carries you up a few thousand feet to the base of the structure. Here once again you have to go up steps, inclines and hills just to reach the steps that will take you to the wall itself.

From the base of the wall, you then climb up more steps until you reach the top section, which is essentially an elevated roadway protected on both sides by a high wall. The you walk ON The WALL. We walked about 3/4 of a mile up and down stairs, up and down steep inclines and up and down more stairs to reach the top of the buildings located about 500 feet apart along the path. These buildings provided shelter for the soldiers manning the wall, were places for storage of goods needed to feed the soldiers, acted as look out towers and may have served many other purposes . they were of different sizes and shapes depending on their function. Some of the more adventurous of us actually climbed several hundred steps up a very steep incline to the top of the mountain for, I am sure, a most spectacular view. We walked along and enjoyed the view for more than an hour where upon we had to retrace our steps down steep inclines and uneven stairs back to our waiting coach. Exhausting, of course. With it? ABSOLUTELY!

Our next stop was dinner. It took about an hour to get back to the city from the wall, most of which people spent sleeping or, at the very least, resting. I headed to the very back of the bus, rolled up my jacket to act as a pillow, spread out across the five seats and fell asleep. This I learned from my son Chris who spent many hours asleep in the back of the bus during many of our European tours in the past. Thanks Chris.

Dinner back in the city was a treat. Tonight we dined in a local restaurant frequented by locals. Not only was there food, but entertainment as well. During the meal we were treated to Chinese Opera performed by a lovely young Geisha, an acrobat juggling basketballs, a magician and finally a splendid young man who sang a duet with himself, playing both the parts of the man and the woman. His range was amazing. We were impressed.

Dinner itself was served, once again, family style. This time I warned everyone to watch out for the Lazy Susan. Unfortunately, they did not heed the warning and tea was spilled onto the table this time and not a lap. We dined, we laughed, we drank more beer and had a wonderful time. Many plates later, it was time to go back on the bus, to our hotel and much needed rest.

Jo, our guide, told us tomorrow we leave Beijing late in the day. We will be catching a late afternoon flight to Guiyang, where we will continue our tour. Good news, however, we get to sleep in as our wake up call is set for 7:15 am.

One other headline. Remember the lady who lost her purse and hence her passport? Well our Guide set her up with another guide who took her to the American Embassy where she got a new passport. They then went to the Chinese Embassy for the entry visa. A little discussion about it taking 7 days to get a visa, the girl at the desk felt sorry for the miserable American and she expedited the Visa. She will be fully credentialed tomorrow before we leave for the airport. Tragedy averted.

---

Photos

Sacred Way
The place where the Emperors are buried. Now a beautiful park

Sacred Way
Main Gate. You must pass a gate to enter any building or courtyard.

Sacred Way Column
Tells a story of an Emperor

Sacred Way
Me and my Camel

Great Wall
Once 5000 miles long now only 2500

Great Wall
On of many vistas

Great Wall
Phil, John, Rick walking on the Wall

Great Wall
Tower entrance to a guard tower

Great Wall Vista
Another beautiful view from the wall

Great Wall
Side view of construction

Great Wall
Just hanging out

Great Wall
Walking on the Wall