Beijing Day 2

It's now almost 9:30 p.m. Sunday, November 9 and I'm just now in the hotel and relaxing after a hot shower. Today was and incredible adventure.

After locating a Starbucks across the street from the hotel, Terri and I boarded the tour bus at 8 a.m. Our first stop was a jade factory. We got a lesson in Jade 101 - everything from how they carve the intricate pieces to how to tell if you're buying the real thing or something that has had dye injected in it. It was a litle depressing to see the people working so diligently in such depressing conditions. Our tour guide at the jade factory also pointed out an interesting fact - only men can carve the jade which is a trade that cannot be taught in school but instead passed down from father to son. But no worries women, there is a place for you in the jade factory. You can polish the pieces the men have carved.

I also learned that jade comes in different colors besides the common green color. And it will change colors over a period of time. The stone is believed by the Chinese to symbolize longevity. Many women wear jade bracelets on their left hand beside it is closest to the heart.

After our tour (and shopping excursion) at the jade factory, we began our trek to the Great Wall of China. I can now say why it is considered a Great Wall and one of the seven wonders of the world. It is incomprehensible even after you see it. The wall dates back to before Christ but was several sections of a wall disparate from each other. It was under the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century that the massive undertaking of restoring and expanding the wall took place. We only climbed one section of it that is closest to Beijing. The wall itself is thousands of miles long. Climbing the wall is a serious workout. The steps are not all the same height and many are very steep. The lower section was packed full of people but the higher you go the more the crowds thin out and the more breathtaking the views become. It truly is amazing and I know I'm not even close to conveying its magnificence.

I will admit on the climb down I suffered from a fear of heights. As you climb up, you don't concentrate on what is below you. But when you start to go down the VERY STEEP stairs it is - or at least for me - it was a little freightening.

The drawback to the Wall (as well as other national monuments/historical sites) is the vendors. At various levels there are vendors trying to sell you some touristy knick knacks ... I think it really takes away from the historic purity of the site.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox.

Our next stop was lunch (thank God!). We were shuttled to a factory that made cloissane (not really sure of the spelling on that one). It it is an interesting process - from the laying of the brass patterns on the item that is being decorated to the placement of color, kiln, sanding then polishing - I can see why it is expensive. It is all done by hand. We ate lunch in a restaurant upstairs and then was given the opportunity to shop (shocker, I know).

We then proceeded to the Ming Tombs. Outside of the city is a large piece of land where 13 of the 16 Emperors are buried. We toured the palace, spirit tower and treasurers of the Chang Ling (one of the Ming Dynasty) emperors. Chang Ling is the emperor who built the Forbidden City in Beijing. No wonder his "Hall of Eminent Favor" has so many of the same architectural features and designs of the Forbidden City. The cool thing about the Hall of Eminent Favor is that the structure is made completely out of wood - no nails were used. It is, like everything else in China, massive and impressive.

After our tour there, we made our way to dinner and a Chinese acrobat show. It was very entertaining. My personal favorite was the jujit su. It's fun to watch, but really, should someone's body really twist and turn and bend that way. Just isn't normal.

I've posted some pictures. Unfortunately my camera battery was dying after the great wall, so I couldn't take as many pictures with my camera. No worries for me because my new friends Matt and Colleen are emailing me pictures from their camera. Oh, and Matt was great at keeping my mind off the steep stairs and kept me laughing instead of freaking out over how high we were!!!

Another little interesting fact our tour guide clued us in on. In China each family is only allowed one child. If you were to have a second child you would have to pay the government $12,000 (sounds like a new resident impact fee to me). If you don't pay then you don't get the paperwork on the child which means that child won't have access to healthcare or an education. Hmmm ... just something to think about.

OK, I am really tired and sore ... Going to bed! Tomorrow is also full of fun things for us to do including a ride in a rickshaw - can't wait!