Trips and Tours in Beijing
8/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Today was all about being a tourist. We met the tour bus at our hotel at 6:45a.m. and were on our way by 7. As we drove, the tour guide gave a non-stop commentary about the history of Beijing and China (which I may have missed a bit of while trying to make up for some lost sleep), filling us in on a wealth of amazing and interesting facts. As we reached the outskirts of the city and entered into the more mountainous regions, we began to see another side of China. Gone were the sky scrapers and modern technological features, replaced by farming areas and efficient, quaint homes. Finally we reached our destination... The Great Wall! Well, almost... first we had about a half mile hike up a seriously inclined road lined with vendors selling souvenirs and food. Then a 5-minute cable car ride up the side of a mountain. And then.... The Great Wall. It is amazing. The wall stretches as far as you can see in both directions, up and down with the mountain terrain. Just when you think you see the end, you catch a glimpse of another guard house or parapet farther off in the distance. Traveling along the wall is tricky as the slope is constantly changing and the steps are not even or predictable-- some you can take three at a time, while others require some scrambling to climb. The relatively cool mountain air was little relief as we started dripping sweat as soon as we began wandering. We had a limited time to explore so we began power walking along the wall, stopping to take pictures of the intricate architecture, the ingenious drainage system and the completely breathtaking view.
Eventually we had to stop because the wall was blocked off for some repairs, but we traveled a good distance along this fantastic structure that was built centuries ago and is still standing today. It is overwhelming to realize the magnitude of this wall and envision the amount of time and labor and organization put into this project.
After the wall, we headed back to the Bank of America "clubhouse" to visit with the U.S. team during a spirit rally hosted by Bank of America. It was great to get to spend some time with Amy just hanging out and talking, since all of our other visits have been brief chats after the games. I think it was nice for the team to get some time out of the village and I know the families definitely appreciated the time. The rally went quickly, capped off by a speech by Tiki and the impromptu dance-off that always occurs when Eye of the Tiger is played.
The visit ended quickly, as our day of tourism continued. Our next stop was the Forbidden City, home to the Chinese Emperors during their reigns. We got the speed version of the tour, but considering the fact that we only had a couple hours and there are almost 9,000 rooms, I think that is understandable. This landmark should certainly be considered a city, with countless buildings and courtyards and gates and gardens. The Imperial Garden itself is massive and full of trees over 300 years old. Our guide would stop us at different sites, pointing out the interesting historical landmarks and features. We were told that the entire City was built in 14 years and served as the home to the Emperor and his entire extended family. As we exited through the main gate, I was amazed at the thickness of the front wall. But I guess if you are building something to protect your Emperor, you don't mess around.
As we exited the Forbidden City's front gate, we had an amazing view of Tian'enman Square, directly across the street. We crossed underneath the street via a pedestrian walkway and found ourselves in the middle of the largest square in the world, capable of holding one million people (of course, we have found that they can fit about 200 people in a city bus, so it doesn't surprise me about the 1 million people in a square!!). The square was the site of the tragic deaths of several protesters, probably it's most infamous event. The south end of the square is also the site of Chairman Mao's mausoleum, his final resting place visited by hundreds each day.
We explored the square and admired the impressive landscaping celebrating the Olympic Games before heading to a restaurant for a traditional Peking Duck dinner. Although my dad was disappointed that he didn't get a whole duck to himself, the food was impressive and diverse. We had stir-fried vegetables, soup, fried rice, apple salad, jellied beef and bamboo shoots as well as several other dishes. The duck was delicious and we learned how to make wraps filled with duck and vegetables inside what the Chinese call a "pancake" (more similar to a tortilla, but thinner and made with something different).
On the ride home, everyone in the group was thoroughly exhausted from our day of tourism, but filled with a new insight and appreciation for the long history of this country hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. The Chinese culture has such a rich past and incredible landmarks celebrating this past. It makes me wonder if the newest architectural landmarks erected for the Olympic Games will be held in such esteem by future generations; it certainly seems like a possibility.
