Wednesday – The Great Wall!

I was really excited about today’s trip: The Great Wall! An early start was obviously required to complete the long drive out there from Beijing and arrive before the crowds did. On arrival at the Wall, it was evident that we had arrived at the perfect time, as there were only a couple of other coaches there – by the time we left I counted more than 35! Being at the Wall when it is quiet enables for better photography and ease of getting up and down the steps.

The Great Wall area spans over 13,000 miles and would take around 18 months to walk – depending on how fast you walk, of course. The area is undeniably a great feat of engineering and is a series of fortifications. The steps are very steep, much more so than I had visualised, and set at different heights which was apparently done to prevent the enemy form climbing them at speed. The Wall was built over centuries by various Chinese leaders to protect the empire from nomadic tribes. The most well-preserved section of the Wall is approximately 5,499 miles long and located northeast of Beijing.

I was really pleased that this iconic site exceeded my expectations with its incredible workmanship, stunning scenery and perfect weather – if not a little too hot. I managed to climb to a good height of the Wall to ensure good views, but it was a very steep climb – so if you deem yourself to be unfit you may need to get some training in before your trip here.

After the magic of the Great Wall, and hundreds of photos later, it was sadly time to tear myself away from this iconic site and remember the experience forever. There were a few market stalls here, too, at the bottom of the wall, and some of the group bought a few nice souvenirs.

Before lunch, it was time to visit the jade factory where I declared that I would not be spending any money. This declaration, however, lasted all of about 10 minutes before I found myself buying a jade bracelet. Well, you have to have a few souvenirs from your trip, don’t you! After our spending spree, we were taken into the dining area where we all had lunch before setting off for an afternoon at the Summer Palace.

The Summer Palace area is beautiful with its stunning lake that is scattered with authentic little Chinese boats bobbing back and to with tourists, enabling them to admire the views from the water. There are gardens and a paved area that goes around part of the lake and over a bridge to one of the islands in the middle: Nanhu Island which has its own temple. There are two more islands in the middle of the lake: Zaojiantang and Zhijingge. The Palace was an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty and used as a summer residence for the Qing dynasty emperors and empresses – it is now a public park. I loved the Summer Palace area, as it was tranquil and relaxing, and a real contrast to the hustle and bustle of Beijing.

This was our last evening in Beijing before we had to say farewell and board the bullet train to Xi’an early the following morning, so after dinner it was time to make sure everything was packed up and ready to put on the coach after breakfast.