Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Walking the Wall

Day One in China: Ming Tomb, Jade Factory, the Great Wall, Olympic Stadiums 

Today was our first full day in China! We had a great flight and getting through customs in Beijing was a breeze. The first "sightseeing" chance we got was a thrown-in-the-deep-end first-hand experience with Beijing traffic. Immediately leaving the airport we got on the "Airport Expressway", never got over 10 miles an hour and spend about an hour and a half traveling the 20 mile distance to dinner. 

After dinner was a quick and easy check-in to the hotel and everyone was off to bed; finally, after being awake for 26 hours!

This morning we were greeted by the largest breakfast hall you've ever seen followed by an hour drive to the Ming Tombs, the 13 burial tombs of the Ming Dynasty built approximately 600 year ago. 

After the Ming Tombs we had a quick drive to one of the only government-run jade factories. Here we learned about the importance of jade to Chinese culture and got to see how many of the intricate pieces of jewelry and figurines are made. In China jade is a common substitute for wedding rings. In America we place rings on a woman's left ring finger, but in China it's common for a man to buy his wife a jade bangle, symbolizing holding all five fingers and her entire hand through life. 

Many travelers purchased jade items before heading off to a traditional cloisonne factory and lunch. 

After lunch was the much anticipated trip to the Great Wall! Several of our groups experienced different portions of the wall, but the entire section of the wall outside of Beijing is known as the most beautiful and scenic area in all of China. And let me tell you, the scenery is amazing once you haul yourself up the world's most uneven and worn steps!

Check in with us tomorrow: on deck is the Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, a hutong tour and a show highlighting the Legend of Kung Fu!

- Kate Lufkin

Beautiful colors and intricate work are the signature of Chinese Cloisonne. 
Vases are the traditional Chinese gift to others



Climbing up the great wall with one of our travelers - 86 years old and flying up the wall!


See the beautiful colors and intricate work are the signature of Chinese Cloisonne


 A beautiful lion from the Jade factory


The emperor bronze is at the entrance of the Ming Tomb museum

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