Day 6

We woke up this morning excited at the prospect of our visit to the Great Wall. We looked out the window and discovered thick fog and rain, oh no. We kept hoping it would clear up later. Our trip to the wall took about 1 ½ hrs, a little longer than usual due to the heavy traffic and the appalling weather which was getting worse by the minute.
Our guide informed us that the only way up on the wall was by a cable car. My heart sank, I hate cable cars. I asked if there was any way we could get on the wall without the dreaded cable car. There were a few other people like me and it was decided to split into two groups, a walking all the way group and a cable car group. We set off with our umbrellas and within 15 minutes we were on the wall. All I could see was a sea of umbrellas but we forged ahead and began to climb some steps. It was freezing cold, windy wet and the fog completely obliterated any view, but we were on the wall.
At first it was easy. What was all the fuss about. Soon it became steeper and steeper. I began to hold on to the brass rail which was like holding onto a block of ice as we climbed higher and higher, it began to get slippery but we forged ahead breathless, it’s impossible to stop and rest on the steep uphill bits as there’s a tendancy to topple backwards
Eventually reaching a flat bit, some of our small group decided we had, had enough and as we could see absolutely no view we turned around and came back down. That wasn’t easy either. Gripping the icy railing we tottered down the steep parts. Some people were running free fall down the steep bits and using the crowd as a means of stopping. Fortunately no one crashed into me.
I was going to ring people from the wall, but with an umbrella in one hand, fending off the hoardes and hanging on to the icy railing with the other hand it became impossible.
We eventually made it back to the entrance and waited there for the remainder of the group. We then met up with the cable car people. Colin had made it to the top of the cable car section, but like our group had zero visability and turned back disappointed and bought a book showing pictures of the wall on a good day.
I cant say it was an experience of a life time but it was exciting to actually be on the wall. We will come back one day and climb it again, on a fine day.
After the wall we visited the Ming Tombs. In the grounds there is not much to see, just a big hill as the actual tombs of the Emperors, the last 13 Ming Emperors, are about 30 metres underground. There is a large ornate burial hall and inside is a display of many treasures, including ornate jewelry, hats and beautifully embroidered coats and jackets.
We then walked down the Sacred Way, which was absolutely beautiful. It is a very wide boulevard lined with weeping willow trees and statues of animals. When an emporer died his funeral procession went along the Sacred Way.
We have been really surprised by Beijing. It is very clean and neat. There are lots of parks and gardens with beautifully manicured flower beds. The streets are very wide. The people are very friendly and the streets really come alive at night with brightly coloured lanterns and neon signs in every colour.
We look out our window each morning and can see a small park nearby where many chinese practice early morning Tai Chi and we can see the roofs of the Forbidden City and the drum tower and the bell tower in the distance.

Day 7
This morning it looks quite miserable outside. There is a very thick fog and it is very grey out there but at the moment it is not raining. After breakfast we will be walking to Tiannamen Square and then make our way to the airport for our flight to Chonquin where we will board our ship for our four night cruise on the Yangtsee.