Return Trip Day 4: The Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven

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This is Hannah - Today I went to the Great Wall with and climbed it with my friends AiLi, Leanna, Lea and her her little sister Laila. Then we went to lunch at a local restaurant. We were supposed to have a traditional Beijing duck dinner today, but were having it for lunch tomorrow instead. The we went to a silk factory and then to a Kung Fu show - IT WAS REALLY LOUD. I couldn't even hear myself talk. I'll write more tomorrow.

-Hannah



Busy day today - tied to fit 2 days worth of activities into one. There are now 22 million people in Beijing, but the traffic this morning wasn't as bad as the daily commute from the South Shore. Went to Ju Yong Pass in the Great Wall today - it is one of the three great mountain passes in The Wall. It was much steeper than the section that we climbed on out last trip, and was a relatively challenging climb. The steps are uneven and at times almost vertical - the girls were frequently climbing up on their hands and feet. Only 5 of us climbed to the top, but it was worth the view - spectacular. Took about 80 min to climb the several thousand stairs tot the top, and 25 min to get back down. This afternoon we visited the Temple of Heaven, which was built > 500 years ago and still has several 500+ year old juniper trees on the site. Saw three culturally important sites there: the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Echo Wall, and the Circular Mound. Apparently this is where the Emperor would go several times each year to pray directly to the heavens. It is very reminiscent of the Forbidden CIty, and was apparently built in the same time period. Also went to both a jade factory and a silk factory - remarkable works of art at both sites. Finished up the day with a great Kung Fu show - any of the eight-year-old performers could have taken our entire group out. The girls ar learning a lot about Chinese culture from our guide, Katherine, and looking forward to the Forbidden City tomorrow.

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Photos

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At the Base of the Great Wall

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Ju Yong Pass - Great Wall

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Hannah, Lea, AiLi, Leanna, and Leila on the Great Wall

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Temple of Heaven

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With the cast of the Kung Fu show

Comments

[Michael Carroll]

Awesome
ITS SO COOL THAT YOU WENT TO THE GREAT WALL! WAS IT HARD? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING THAT YOU HAVE SEEN SO FAR? I WISH I WAS IN CHINA! YOU WILL HAVE TO TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOUR TRIP WHEN YOU GET BACK.