Day 12 (continued)

Another half-hour and we were at the Great Wall. The drive itself was beautiful -- luscious green mountains, spectacular scenery. The road parallels the train tracks from Russia -- it must be a magnificent trip. Arrivig at the Wall is another thing entirely -- thousands and thousands of tourists and all the accompanying tee shirt and gift shops. Still, the Wall itself is really amazing as it snakes up and down the crest of the mountain range. You can climb either to the left or the right -- quite a trek to the top. It's very steep in parts, people sliding all over. but the climb was well worth it -- the view and the majesty of it all was really overwhelming. Apparently you can continue on -- fewer tourists and the Wall not yet restored in some parts but I was definitely too tired (and running short of time). So Paul, his mum, and I headed back down for some souvenir tee shirts and cold coke.

Day 12 (continued)

Badalingzhen, China