Beijing peaked at 38 degrees in June, not an ideal time for sightseeing. But our 8 days in China turned out to be the perfect timing to travel - right after DuanWuJie and right before 高考 finished. Meaning, the whole of China was indoors studying. There was no crowd anywhere!!! Unbelievable.
司马台Sima Tai Great Wall
Our plan was to land then move out to cooler regions ASAP. Sima Tai, the only section of the Great Wall opened for night climbing. Imagine a backdrop of sunset giving way to lanterns lighting up the evening wall…
Perfect view from our hotel room.
Morning ascent was not in the plan, but Ken suggested climbing maybe 1-5 watch towers in the morning then tower 5-7 in the evenings. Let’s do it all!
Then I realized what people did not say about climbing the Great Wall. The Great Wall meanders along the mountain ridges. So Climbing the Wall is one thing. Climbing up the mountain to reach the Wall is another thing!!! The first steps up started at the end of our village. The staff told us it would take 45mins to climb up…
Ha! A Chinese 45mins would easily be 3 hours in Singapore standards. We opted for the cable car to ferry us up midway. Then spent the next eternity questioning why they did not build the drop off higher. "Why are you torturing me? Why?"... Boy still had energy to whine, meaning he was fine.
Arrived. Ok now we can start to climb the wall. Dotter gave up after 2 sections then pretended to be the teenager abandoned by parents (for a long time) to pursue greater heights. I was already on all fours up the uneven steps then waved Ken and Morg to continue without me.
不到长城，非好汉。这个好汉也没那么容易当的。
This view where I sat exhausted on the steps... I became overwhelmed with the emotion of 大好山河 but also all the while contemplating the life and death situation of how to get down. At this perfect moment, I received a text from Andy to do my May Timesheets. Sigh…
Back in SG, a friend asked a bizarre question “where is the wall?’ what wall?
This one?
Ohhhhhh… Yahor…. “… and no handrails at the side so you don’t fall?” … handrails? Then I recalled we came for the more remote, original, un-restored section… you fall, you fall… This is better, right?
古北水乡Gubei Water Village, at foot of Sima Tai
The night is quiet and beautiful. M&M on their rare night out...
Scooping around in the neighborhood in the day time.
Datong, Shanxi
地上文物看山西，地下文物看陕西。
Yun gang Grottoes… 252 caves, 51,000 Buddhist statues, from the mid 5th century…. And in good conditions.
悬崖寺, Hanging Temple by the Hengshan Cliff
But it was impossible to buy an ascend ticket as a foreigner in advance and everything was sold out 7 days in advance. I could literally hear the whole entourage not so subtlety go “Heng Ah”. Best part is, mummy forgot to buy all entry tickets into the mountain too!!!
M&M’s whole mind was “let’s just get back to KFC as soon as possible” …
土林Datong Earth Forest
Big place to play catching while avoiding geese poop landmines at the same time.
Yingxian Pagoda, Ying County (916-1125, Liao Dynasty)
A far far away location recommended by the driver. We almost got stuck in traffic jam with massive truckers out of nowhere in this wilderness and driver had to make a sudden left turn onto the dirt paths in the corn fields to escape. Hoho!!! Bumpy ride, holidays should always be this adventurous.
I felt serious attachment to this oldest wooden pagoda in China. It is fat, heavy, beautiful and leaning on one side. You could slip your hand under the columns on one end. No known method of repair yet and the realization that in years to come, this pagoda may no longer exist brought a sense of honor that we can be at its presence now.
Datong is like JB to BJ. We had our best noodles in our life.. Morg loves 刀削牛肉面so much that the noodles even became the breakfast bread spread!!!
Beijing Beijing
Yes I got an english speaking guide, knowing full well M&M would check out after 10mins of Chinese history in Mandarin.
It was good. If they could absorb 10% of everything said in Tiananmen, Forbidden Palace and Temple of Heaven, this was money well spent.
Ken was down with tummy ache so it was just three of us.
Miracle, Ken made full recovery right before Peking Duck Time!
