Michael Alexander: Great Wall

[Jan. 3, 2011-BEIJING]]Today was another spectacular day. We started by going to the Great Wall. Normally it is about a two hour drive, but we made it in about an hour because today was a holiday in China. Also, the bus drivers here do not wait for anything. There is only one traffic rule in Beijing, that is to just go. They do not yield to anyone including pedestrians.

The Great Wall was incredible.  We could climb to the top of the pass we were at, which was about half a mile straight up.  It was an exhilarating feeling to reach the top. Lots of smiling faces and huffing and puffing from the orchestra.  The vendors at the bottom and at each outpost were also fascinating.  The students are getting quite good at negotiating with them to get good prices.

The afternoon was devoted to shopping as we visited jade and pearl factories and an antique market.  Many students bought traditional Chinese instruments to bring home.  After another great dinner, we watched the first part of the Peking Opera and then returned to the hotel.

We leave very early tomorrow to head to Xi'an.  I feel like we have done so much in two and a half days here, but Beijing is immense.  We really started to get that sense today after driving out of it towards the Great Wall.  High rises as far as the eye can see.  I feel like we are getting familiar with the customs in China now and I look forward to more adventures and two more concerts in Xi'an.