The Great, Great Wall

Over the Lunar New Year (January 24-27^th) I traveled to Beijing for a quick 4-day tour de China. A friend of mine, Dr. O (seriously, that’s his name), organized the flight and accommodation for a group of 13 expats. The itinerary was completely discretionary and we were able to explore at our own leisure.

 

Like most people, the number one thing I wanted to see in Beijing was the Great Wall. Unlike most people, I didn’t just SEE the wall, but I actually WALKED 10K of it! I was a little reluctant booking the 2 ½ hour taxi ride there…since it was about 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the city. I could only assume that it would be colder in the rural area we were headed (something that would worry any desert rat, like myself).

 

My concern was ample enough for me to splurge (if you consider less than $20 for a nice, knock-off) on a snazzy new snowboarding jacket from the Silk Market, a large indoor (indoor = warm, YES!) flea market packed with everything from clothes to jewelry to silly souvenirs like Mao paraphernalia and chopsticks.

 

With the risk of freezing to death partially mitigated with the purchase of my new jacket, I agreed to make the journey.

 

We arrived early enough so the sun didn’t have enough time to melt the frost and the air was nippy; however, there was no snow on the ground so things were looking up. After breaking a sweat just climbing up to the wall, I felt a lot more confident about the challenge ahead. The first view from the wall was amazing...

 

And it only got better.

 

We took our time, stopping to take hundreds of pictures along the way. This truly was the highlight of my trip to China, so I will just let the slideshow speak for itself. Like usual, the camera didn’t do justice…but you get a good idea.

 

For the curious, my 10K partner is Rob, from Diamond, Ohio. He lives and teaches in Gyoha, like me. He is the one who introduced me to Dr. O and invited me on this unforgettable trip. Without him, I would not have this awesome story to tell!

 

For the shopaholics, my purchases at the Silk Market expanded far beyond the snazzy, warm coat. I also bought some beautiful Jade jewelry (since China is know for its Jade), some cute “Diesel” jeans (I tried them on right in the middle of the market! The lady just held up a sheet and I dropped trou), a silk shirt (because I was AT the Silk Market- duh!) and a giant paintbrush. I know the giant paintbrush is an odd purchase, but it’s something I really wanted. Korean and Chinese calligraphy is beautiful and I’m hoping to master the art (or dabble in it)