Ming Tomb and Great Wall....plus some shopping

McDonalds is everywhere....and its here in Beijing right across the street from my hotel. A very peculiar breakfast sandwich is available...the Spicy Chicken McMuffin. It is basically chicken leg meat and chipotle sauce on a muffin. It is quite good, but awfully small.


Oh My McD!! What is that Green Sundae I see??!!


Is there any construction codes in China??

First tourist stop today was a factory where cloisonné are made: China Beijing Boyite Cloisonné Factory. Cloisonné originated from China...it is multi-step enamel process used to make potteries and jewelry. At the end of the tour, there is an unavoidable gift shop, where I did manage to buy a vase for about US$100.


Cloisonné Factory Workers - Painting Division

Next stop was the Ming Tomb (明朝十三陵), where 3 of the 13 tombs (with a palace) are open to the public for tour. It is about 50km from downtown Beijing. This burial location was chosen based on Feng Shui principles. The area is surrounded by three mountains: Hu Mountain (Tiger Mountain), Lung Mountain (Dragon Mountain), and the Longevity Mountain....all are symbols of power and prosperity....which is essential for deflecting bad chi. Since it is way pass the Beijing Olympics and the weather is a bit cold, not too many tourists are around. Thus, it is not like some madhouse which is great for photos.


Ming Tomb's Chang Ling - Final Resting Place of 3rd Emperor Yongle


On top of Chang Ling overlooking the Front Courtyard


One of Ming Tomb's original beautiful stone carvings

Lunch was at a jade market, where I learned the different makes of jade as well as how to distinquish its authenticity. I wasn't in the mood to fork out couple of thousand dollars here, so a quick walkthru did the trick.

After lunch was a drive to one of the Great Wall sections: Badaling (八达岭长城). It is one of the more preserved part of the Great Wall. Many tourists tour the other two nearby sites, but this one had no more than 8 people, due to its tough terrain and hikes. However, the walls and gates are not restored, thus giving it much more historic feel instead of some tourist trap.


Schu on Top of the Great Wall - Badaling Section


End of the road for us travellers...but rules are meant to be broken (sometimes...)


Great Wall - as is without modern restoration for tourism


Section of Badaling wall that was penetrated during a civil war in Ming Dynasty by the Peasant Uprising led by Li Zicheng 李自成 (AD 1644)

I did not walk a whole lot today, but did get a good thigh excercise from climbing the Great Wall...so I am going to get a good foot massage at the hotel in preparation for tomorrow's miles walk.