So today, we eventually made it to the Wall. We decided just to book on a tour, so at 11pm last night, the hotel arranged a tour for us. Worked as clockwork - arrived at 7:30am, got there just after 9am, pancakes and coffe for breakfast, 4 hours on the wall - accompanied by crowds of noisy, unruly Chinese school kids, but beautiful views, despite the mist (maybe we'll go back one day on a nice clear day!). Mutianyu is touristy, but not the most touristy place on the wall. We walked all the way to one end of it, then all the way to the other - it's actually very steep, and in some parts quite difficult, even on this 'developed' bit.
One of the highlights was a toboggan run - at the end there was a 1.5km metal run down to the bottom - you ride on little carts - it was fab - we were a bit late for the driver, as we had to wait until it was fully dried until they opened it. Lots of fun - Neve went with Ross, and Felix and I had our own carts - Felix was first, and was almost caught up by Ross and Neve (Ed - who did use the brakes much!); I obeyed the 'slow down' signs and arrived a good 5 mins after everyone else!
After this, our 'tour' took us for a delish lunch of various Chinese food - including the ubiquitous Kung Po Chicken.
Back in Beijing we walked to another market - v realistic rip off i-pods and watches; I later regretted not buying a $4 fake Gucci which was very pleasing on the eye! (but Ross thought I was being very sad so wouldn't let me buy it!)
Then, to top the evening off, we went to the Red Theatre to watch tehe Shaolin Monks - most impressive, and you buy tinnies and take them to your seats!
guess how we did these!
Hoards of school kids... and Aussies dressed as pandas!
At the far reaches of the 'developed' wall, it turns 'wild. What was frustrating was that this particular section was only a few towers beyond where we'd managed to get to yesterday!
...bit misty, but you could see the Wall stretching out into the distance, which was amazing
Like father, like daughter, Kawaii!!
Neve looks very different to most Chinese (and Japanese) children, so tended to get rather a lot of unwelcomed attention - this guy was a harmless but somewhat over-friendly vendor who pretended to be doing Kung Fu: this picture was accompanied by lots of 'hwaa' and 'wiooo' etc.!
Arty shot!
"Do I really have to post for any more bloody pictures!"
... and the piece de resistance - the toboggan run!
You can just about see it stretching over the brow of teh hill - in total it was 1.5 km long! It was such fun
The Red Theatre
Us with our snax and beer in the Red Theatre
The Monks - they were very agile, and clearly felt no pain!
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