Arriving at the Great Wall of China.
Following a slight security problem with a case whose owner had not turned up, we left Heathrow an hour late on Sunday and arrived about an hour later than expected in Hong Kong after a 12-hour flight.
Unfortunately, this meant a huge rush through the airport at Hong Kong, which – although well organised – meant we went from one aeroplane straight on to the other one for a further three and-a-half-hour flight. When we touched down in Beijing, we found our luggage had not followed us!
Thankfully it was located on a later flight and we caught a taxi into the city centre and booked into our hotel at about midnight.
Today, we got up early and joined a tour that went first to the Ming Tombs and later to the Great Wall at Badaling. The Great Wall is incredible and I climbed right to the top of the Eighth Watchtower in the North, which according to Chinese folklore, makes me a hero. Badaling is a section of the wall that is well maintained but very steep, so I felt like a hero by the time I had reached the top anyway!
Beijing is still full of all the Olympic flags and flower beds and everyone is very friendly and helpful
Tomorrow, it is the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden Palace.
The writing challenge is going well and I am on target.
Catching the train from Beijing.
1 Comment
September 23, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Hi kate.just been readin your page.looks so good there.glad you got there ok.take care both of you,will have a look again 2moro.hugh comin up wed nite so he have a raed.dawn.