Our trip to China included a visit to the Great Wall near Mutianyu. A chair lift up the hill and the option to chose between that or a toboggan ride on the way down. Those of us under 60 were allowed on the toboggan run. The track was an aluminum one and the toboggans had a hand brake which one could use around the corners. A friendly recorded voice was broadcast on loudspeakers at the corners advising one to "Slow down and learn into the curve" (we wondered if that was because it was steep learning curve!)
Image may be NSFW.
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This was the view from the wall, looking towards the north where past invading armies would come from.
It was interesting to see it in winter since most tourist photo include photos from the summer or spring.
Some of the translations leave one a bit puzzled.
We were fortunate that the air pollution, rated as hazardous prior to our arrival in Beijing, cleared out due to a cold front blowing in. So we benefitted from clear blue skies.
Looking along the Wall towards the south west.
At different places along the wall there were short stair cases where you could descend to ground level on what would have been the 'friendly' side of the wall.
Snow made the paths slippery in places but they had obviously done some work sweeping snow to one side. It was cold enough that it wasn't melting even under the mid day sunshine.
We stopped for a chocolate break on the way back, although that was Whittaker's NZ chocolate.
And of course Chuck came along too and was held up here by our friend Y, whose dreadlocks made quite the sensation most places we went and it was not unusual to catch a glimpse of locals taking photos of his hair, while pretending to take photos of the sites.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
This was the view from the wall, looking towards the north where past invading armies would come from.
It was interesting to see it in winter since most tourist photo include photos from the summer or spring.
Some of the translations leave one a bit puzzled.
We were fortunate that the air pollution, rated as hazardous prior to our arrival in Beijing, cleared out due to a cold front blowing in. So we benefitted from clear blue skies.
Looking along the Wall towards the south west.
At different places along the wall there were short stair cases where you could descend to ground level on what would have been the 'friendly' side of the wall.
Snow made the paths slippery in places but they had obviously done some work sweeping snow to one side. It was cold enough that it wasn't melting even under the mid day sunshine.
We stopped for a chocolate break on the way back, although that was Whittaker's NZ chocolate.
And of course Chuck came along too and was held up here by our friend Y, whose dreadlocks made quite the sensation most places we went and it was not unusual to catch a glimpse of locals taking photos of his hair, while pretending to take photos of the sites.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
