As I have discovered after much frustration trying to post this blog not only does China block google and Facebook but they also block many other applications so I will be posting all of these once we are in Nepal where access to the internet is not controlled. This is a new experience for us and it does feel odd. On the plane to Llasa yesterday before we took off security came on to say that no behaviour wood be tolerated and that all passengers were being monitored. Very different than Air Canada!
As we only had two full days here and the w.as a lot to see we elected to use private tour guides for the full day on each day and it was a brilliant choice. Provided with a driver and guide we saw so much more than we ever could have done on our own but even better than that both of our young guides spoke great English and were eager to share the history and present day culture of their country with us. They spoke freely of their own families experiences and we felt that included in each tour we got eight hours of classroom time. It was fantastic. Both girls had been born in families after 1979 when the one child rule was implemented and as they were not the first child one of their families had been given money from family and friends to pay the large fine where as the other had benn hidden at her aunts until her father gave land back to the government to pay the fine.
Our first visit was to a section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu which is the longest intact section at 5400 meters. This was very important during the Ming Dynasty and has a watchtower every 100 meters, most which are still intact. It is situated amongst stunning mountainous terrain. We took the chair lift up to the wall and then rode down in toboggans on a metal track. I have to admit I did make use of the brake on the curves to Eric’s dismay. Walking on the wall itself was very special and definitely on our bucket list.
We next went to a local Chinese restaurant with our guide. She did the ordering and the food was delicious. This is a very phone oriented society. They use their phone for all transactions. At the restaurant there was a bar code at the table and that was how you ordered and got your bill. Our guide even pointed out a beggar who had a bar code on his front so people could donate money to him directly. That is taking begging to a whole new level.
We then visited the summer palace which covers 2.9 square kilometres with 3/4 of it being Kumming Lake which is entirely man made and was started in1271 as a water source for the palace. Over the years many structures were erected here with the centrepiece being the Great Temple of Gratitude and Longevity. A 700 meter long corridor is beautifully decorated with wonderful paintings. As the Dragon Lady spent much of her time here there was also an opera theatre built as it was her passion. The site is now a world UNESCO site.
Lift up to the Great Wall
First steps onto the wall
This group of students were singing patriotic songs on the Great Wall. Nice to stop and listen for awhile . Above is a couple of tourists on the wall
The barracks where the soldiers who worked on the wall lived
Eric tobogganing down from the Great Wall
I was much slower to Eric’s dismay
The female lion outside the Summer Palace
The Emperor had huge rock formations moved into the gardens from afar
The Summer Palace
Kumming Lake totally man made above and a view of the Great Walkway with irs incredible artwork which has survived centuries
One of the arches in the walkway
Looking at the walkway from the outside
Buddhist temple looking over the Summer Palace
Opera House at the Summer P
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