Larry, thank you for the comments about the photos. Yes, it was strange to be bundled up for the winter weather. Evidently, they experienced the coldest winter in sixty years. Normally, by now it would be quite a bit warmer.
Larry had one questions for us which was whether there were any restrictions on picture taking? There were two that were told about yesterday. One was not to take photos of any soldiers. The only exception was that area in front of the photo of Mao Tse-Tung in Tianenmen Square where it was OK for Keith to take the photo of the changing of the guard. The other restriction is that inside a couple of the buildings that we were taken into at Forbidden City photos were prohibited.
We wanted to begin by sharing with you some key from yesterday’s drive from the port of call into Beijing. They illustrate in part the tremendous growth that is taking place throughout China.
1. We have never seen more containers in any port not a port as large as this one in any port we have ever sailed around the world. Getting out of this area took what seemed to be around 30 minutes with containers stacked as high as you could see. The sheer volume of these containers was utterly amazing. On top of this were large lots of automobiles being imported and exported.
2. As we drove along the road that took us out of the port and then for the next couple of hours towards Beijing each side of the road was lined with trees. Instead of being planted one at a time parallel to the road they also went back quite far, all planted in straight lines. When we asked the tour guide about them he indicated that the government in response to environmental issues had planted them.
3. On a related note, we kept being told that the lack of sun is due to fog. Somehow, this seems to many of us as more than fog and appears to be pollution or at least a combination of pollution/smog and fog. We know that several of us had some affects from the pollution and that includes the two of us.
Coincidentally, after we wrote this we were reading the newspaper that was provided in our room called the South China Morning Post. There was an article titled, For Wen, It's Too Little Too Late which discussed the failure of Premier Wen Jiabao to followup on his earlier commitment to address the environment. It talked about air and water pollution and how it is a major problem.
Coincidentally, after we wrote this we were reading the newspaper that was provided in our room called the South China Morning Post. There was an article titled, For Wen, It's Too Little Too Late which discussed the failure of Premier Wen Jiabao to followup on his earlier commitment to address the environment. It talked about air and water pollution and how it is a major problem.
4. We thought that Dubai had the most cranes I had ever seen in one place in my life. Well one of the symbols of China must now be the crane. We have never seen so many cranes in my life and as much construction as we saw during the drive. You continually saw in small pockets lots of building going up next to others that were recently completed ranging from condominiums/apartments to office/manufacturing plants.
Unlike Shanghai with all of those modern and very tall buildings, Beijing has its own distinct and very charming character. Unlike, Shanghai, the Chinese government restricts the height of buildings in Beijing.
Keith last visited Beijing in 1994 and while changes have taken place around the city there is much that is reminiscent to what Keith saw back then.
The major changes are in the road system with various rings linking various parts of Beijing to one another. At the same time automobiles have replaced the vast number of bicycles. Traffic congestion is such a problem and with a population of approximately 20 million people, there is a lottery like system in place that restricts the number of new automobiles that can be bought each month. Many cars on the road are luxury vehicles and German cars are a preference for those who can afford them.
There are also many more hotels, stores and restaurants than eighteen years ago.
At the same time, while there are more of what we would term middle and upper class areas, there are still pockets of poor areas throughout the city and clearly many poor as you would see in most major cities around the world.
These are a few more photos from yesterday.
We slept very well last night and this was the first time in ninety two days that we have slept on land. While the hotel is large the hotel room floors do not seem too large and are very quiet. We could not hear anything from adjoining rooms or the hallway.
We would do this anyway but both the tour guide and the hotel had warnings about not drinking tap water. We don't even use the tap water for brushing our teeth but use bottled water instead.
We are on one of the club floors and as such have access to a club room. Last evening we enjoyed some wine/beer at the club room along with some canapes and sat with friends Bob and Glo.
Breakfast is included for everyone staying at both this hotel and the Peninsula Hotel for the Crystal guests. We also could have breakfast in the club room which we did. Another nice touch was being able to have coffee delivered to our room along with our wakeup call. After breakfast, we got ready for our day.
Today centered around a visit to the Great Wall. The Great Wall of China was built to protect China from the incursions of predatory nomads. The drive to the Great Wall took about two hours but was certainly worth the time. This was Anne Marie's first visit to the Great Wall and Keith's second visit.
Unlike Keith's first visit, we went to an area of the Great Wall that most tourists do not get to and it was in a more remote area. The drive time was over two hours each way. The views were extraordinary. Overall, the weather was nicer than what we expected but we also had a brief snow shower. We also ate lunch at the wall. We walked mainly the area of the wall that has been restored but there was an area that had not yet been restored and a few people including Keith walked that area.
Several of these women walked the wall with us. We were told about them from our guide before we arrived. They were not bothersome and they were actually helpful. They did want us to purchase something at the end of the trip which we did because they were kind and they were helpful to us.
Friends Bob and Glo
This was one of the areas that Keith walked to on his own with the help of one of the local women.
This is one of the unrestored areas which Keith walked.
This evening we dined at an Asia Restaurant with Bob and Glo at the hotel. We had an adventurous meal which included some very hot and spicy soup.
It was a wonderful day and walking the Great Wall of China was a moment that we will carry with us for the rest of our lifetime.
“Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.” – Sir James Dewar
Keith and Anne Marie
WOW, how thrilling to be there (almost) all by yourself. I can't remember being as cold as I was when I was at the Badaling section early this afternoon. It must have been colder when you were there this morning.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are so majestic! I visited Beijing in 1992 and was so struck by the Great Wall. Your pictures nicely convey that feeling again. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLily
Up to now we have had no particular interest in visiting China, but your spectacular pictures of the Great Wall have us re-thinking this just a little bit. Sure we have seen pictures in a magazine, but it all seems so much more real when the pictures were taken by someone you know.
ReplyDelete