Beijing Day 2

We left the hotel bright and early at 7:00 am. The bus ride to the Great Wall reminded us of 5:00 pm traffic in Nashville on a rainy afternoon.  When we arrived, we were greeted by at least 1 million Chinese.  For the first couple of days, we were blessed with good weather.  However, the closer that we got to the Great Wall the more windy and cooler.   We had some who thought they could bounce.  Right on up too the top with no problem.  Well they, along with everybody else found out that was not in the cards.   But It was a very good day getting to see and walk on a "Wonder of the world" here in China. The Great Wall is indeed a construction marvel that started over 2000 years ago. It is something to see.

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century BCE; these, later joined together and made bigger and stronger, are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. Especially famous is the wall built 220–206 BCE by Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Little of that wall remains. Since then, the Great Wall has on and off been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced; the majority of the existing wall is from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

Great Wall with Joyful Friends

Great Wall Coffee Shop

After our visit to the Great Wall, we had a very nice lunch at a place where Jade was sold. Very nice jewelry however, very expensive. Then we were off to see the tombs of several of China's rulers. Thirteen emperors are buried in the Grand Mausoleums between 1368 and 1644. The tombs are guarded by 18 pairs of massive sculptures of elephants, lions, camels (2 humps) and mythical beast.

Camel at the Mausoleum

And last, the day ended with a wonderful 5 course Peking Duck dinner. A great evening was had by all. However, everyone could not wait to get back to our hotel & hit the sheets as we have another long day tomorrow.

Lunch at Jade Carving Factory Restaurant

Brenda was a pro with chopsticks