Beijing is an eclectic mix of everything I have experienced in China thus far. It is not ultra modern like Shanghai or Hong Kong, nor is it rustic and rural like Guilin. For instance, the subway system is better than Toronto’s but not as clean, efficient or up-to-date as Shanghai. Streets have a distinct smell, bathrooms are often rough looking and our hostel, although we have a private room, has some questionable cleanliness standards.
What has made the biggest impression on me so far is the density of population in Beijing. It is busier than Hong Kong. I’ve never seen so many people, all the time, everywhere (sidewalks, street, subway, McDonald’s lineup). It is slightly overwhelming and claustrophobic at the same time.
Tiananmen Square
Summer Palace
Night Market
The Great Wall
I don’t even know where to begin...I now understand why it is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. My words will not do it justice; you need to see it for yourself.
We lucked out because it was a crystal clear day. It took two hours to drive to Mutianyu, the section of the wall we choose to visit. It is slightly restored (so tourists can walk it safely) and still has one area that is completely untouched. We wanted the authentic experience. Other sections are fully restored, meaning the wall looks as it would have when originally completed (usually the beautiful white wall you see in published pictures and on TV).
We took a ski-lift contraption from the parking lot to the wall, by-passing a 40-minute walk. It was a blistering hot day and there is no shade on the wall, expect for the watch towers. We were a sweaty mess in minutes. There are plenty of water vendors all along the wall. Actually, they had beer, too, which would have been a big mistake for a lot of people in this type of heat. The steps are all uneven, sometimes incredibly steep and, in other parts, oddly slanted to the left or right. Definitely a bit of a physical challenge even for us active ones. The travel doctor advised me not to touch the wall because of germs but the steps were such that I had too.
It is estimated one million workers died during the wall’s construction, many buried in the wall itself. I will let the photos tell the rest of the story.
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