Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes me east of Beijing firstly to the Ming tombs where I explore one of the main tombs. From there we head into the mountains taking a chairlift up to the top of the ridge to walk along one of the most magnificent and intact sections of the Great Wall of China. Returning down the mountain on a bobsled I head to a tea ceremony before returning to Beijing.
Today's Journey
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Inside a jade factory on our way out of Beijing. A worker carves the jade into shapes which will later be sold. |
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Heading out of the city, we eventually reach one of the Ming Tombs, where a past emperor was buried. We head deep underground to this stone building where the rock sarcophagus is laid into the floor. A pile of money sits on top of the sarcophagus. |
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In another hall at what was once the emperor's thone surrounded by numerous symbolic pots no doubt used to give homage to the emperor in the afterlife. |
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From the Ming Tomb, we head further along the mountains and take a chairlift up to the top of the range. |
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The Great Wall of China runs along the top of the range from the sea for 6000 kilometres across the country. Including side and parallel sections of the wall, it totals 20,000 kilometres in length. |
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Climbing the steep sections inside the wall. The walls on either side were used as battlements and the towers were where the soldiers were based. The wall was built to keep the Mongolians to the north out. |
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Climbing the stairs, some of which have shifted with the mountain moving. The wall is still largely intact though. |
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The Great Wall extends into the hazy mountains. Its position at the top of the range makes for optimum defence against any invaders from Mongolia which at the time had its southern border running along these mountains. |
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We head back down the mountain on a luge meandering its way across the steep slope, making for a quick descent. |
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Upon reaching the bottom of the mountain we have lunch and go to a Chinese tea ceremony before returning to Beijing. |
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