Another lovely day weather wise in Beijing. Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included today.
Peggy is again our guide. I'm very excited as today we go to the
Great Wall of China, Badaling section. This is China's most renowned monument. Peggy gives informative speech as we are traveling to the site. We drive through some scenic countryside. Peggy told us about Mao's Great Leap Forward plan that was a disaster for China. Millions starved to death because Mao didn't want the outside world to know his plan flopped. I had never heard about this Great Leap Forward so Peggy's talk was very interesting. Arriving at the Wall, Badaling section there are lots of tourists, people hawking souvenirs. Our group spends time together as Peggy continues to explain what we're seeing. Then she gives us free time and we scatter to explore more on our own. Richard and I decide to walk to one of the sentry posts. The scenery is beautiful and the magnitude of just this section of the Wall is overwhelming. The Great Wall was begun in the 5th century BC to keep out foreign invaders-mainly the Mongols. Construction continued for centuries eventually linking up the walls of the former independent kingdoms. The Great Wall meanders through China's northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert-a distance of over 3500 miles. Chairman Mao once said"You haven't walked on the Wall, you haven't been a good Chinese". Sentry posts are part of the wall. The purpose for that would be if a warrior maintaining his post saw something alarming he could signal by shooting a flaming arrow which would be seen by the next closest sentry post and the news would be passed on that way from post to post. As Richard and I are walking back to rejoin our group we run into Frank. He's relieved to see us as he says he got lost! Exiting we decide to make a stop at the store where I pick up some souvenirs-a 2008 Beijing coffee mug. The 2008 Summer Olympics are being held in Beijing. We spend a lot of time here.
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| Ticket Office |
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| View from one sentry post |
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| Walking up to a sentry post |
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| Getting ready for 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing |
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| Store at Great Wall, Badaling |
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| 2008 Olympic coffee mug I bought |
Driving we see more sections of the Wall. Our driver stops so we can take pictures. We also see a stadium being built for the 2008 Olympics. We probably stopped for lunch but it doesn't look like I have any pictures or information written down as to the name of the restaurant.
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| 2008 Olympic Stadium |
Our next stop is at a
jade factory where we see objects being made. Of course there's a large store area where I purchase the most beautiful jade dragon screen similar to those in the Forbidden City. I also buy 3 pairs of earrings-for myself, for my daughter, and for my step daughter. I find a necklace charm that matches the earrings I bought for myself. I buy 2 Buddha figures-for myself and for my brother-in-law. Then I buy name chops and ink. I got rooster and phoenix. I spent a lot of money!! But I'm happy with my purchases.
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| This is the jade dragon screen that I bought |
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| I love it!! |
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| So many beautiful objects |
Dinner stop before the Beijing Opera performance.
Then as an optional excursion I've made arrangements for Richard and I to go to a performance of the
Beijing Opera. The performance starts at 7:30 pm and lasts 1 1/2 hours. The tickets are 200 yuan each. Program is 30 yuan. Taxi is 20 yuan but don't know if that's the price one way or round trip?? At time of our trip 8 yuan=$1.00. Even though I didn't understand the language the performance was very entertaining. Glad I decided to do this. Tomorrow we fly to Xian. Terra Cotta Warriors!!!!!!!
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| We saw the actors putting on their make up |
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| Music |
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