Up on the Great Wall… Badaling , China 26 September 2007
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/scene/beijing/badaling.htm
Stamping of feet as they move up steep slopes, huffing and puffing, chortling of unseen bird, Chinese language everywhere except for the peddlers (one postcard for only 20 yuan, but that's almost 3 dollars), a gourd flute switching between traditional Chinese melodies and Auld Lang Syne depending on who's walking by. Key chains and mugs with your picture in front of the wall, slate carvings (remember the weight, person who shall go unnamed…)
Students quickly divided up heading east and west – west is easier but you can't see the length as well; east is harder but more rewarding views and thus very crowded. Two off to run as far as they can go, others leisurely enjoying the cool breeze. It's a lovely day for climbing and the first day of the Moon Festival so all kinds of people are here [but not quite as densely packed as the first time I came which fell on National Day]. It is, however, hard to keep from walking through other people's pictures.
I am enjoying the intergenerational aspect of today – little kids and grandmas posing on wall railings with proud parents snapping away, young couples tucked away in slots of the watch towers enjoying the view together, military officers off duty, and always the foreign tourists, too, and how we stand out. German, Italian, Swedish and probably others…
Our guide says his company offers 8 day hiking trips (10km/day) along the Great Wall, and it was fun to see who perked up and who was horrified (identities not revealed because of sensitive placement in agencies, as Newsweek would say…), and then to see who was surprised that almost all the participants are over 50. Bob, Lin and I were not among the surprised as you might guess.
On to the Ming Tombs.