INCREDIBLE! Also exhausting. Our lungs labored on the way up, and our legs were jelly on the way down. It took us 1.5 hours to climb to the top and an hour back down. The Chinese have a great sense of humor because they laughed and smiled at us as we all panted, and many wanted their pictures taken with us.
Other Things We Learned Today
Wolf dung was used to burn at the watch towers along the wall. Wolf dung burns in a straight, vertical line, which indicated an emergency, such as maurading invaders. Kevin says that way you could smell trouble coming.
Our driver took us past the site of the Aug 2008 Summer Olympics. An entire Olympic city is being built. The Olympic Bird Stadium resembles a Chinese birds nest, which is considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine.
We saw a pheasant standing in the middle of a grassy area of a Beijing highway. Our driver didn't believe us since he'd never seen a pheasant on alongside the highway. W also saw 6 other species of birds during our climb on the Great Wall.
We visited a Jade factory and learned there are over 1,000 green shades of Jade. Also learned that since Jade was scarce in ancient times, only the Emperor was allowed to own jade. He gave it as a gift on special occasions to either 1) his concubines, or 2) high ranking officials. But they had to really earn it.
If an imperial concubine fell ill, seeing a doctor was difficult since women couldn't be touched by men. Instead, the doctor examined the concubine's jade bracelet. Pure jade (known as jadeite) reacts to human skin--worn on the left wrist close to the heart, near the pulse rate and key accupuncture points--the jadeite remained translucent and light if the patient was healthy. If the patient was sick, the jadeite turned dark. And the doctor would check the patient's symptoms and prescribe herbs.
That's all for tonight. We have to keep our legs moving or they'll freeze up from our marathon hike! And we're getting ready to get David tomorrow (Monday) morning!! That's 10-11pm your time Sunday night!
Take care everyone,
Caroline & Kevin
3 comments:
The big day is almost here HOORAY!!!! The Great Wall looked amazing. Did CCAI tell you that on Tuesday you guys have to climb the wall again but this time holding David ?! It will be a cinch. We are thinking of you.
Love CJ, Linda and Lia
How exciting... as for climbing the Great Wall for 1.5 hours... I don't think so... I think that I will walk someway but not like you guys did... still, what an experience. I have had to print off your trip cause the girls at work wanted to know what was going on... looking forward to seeing David tonight or tomorrow morning... take care...
I'll be thinking of you three tonight. Enjoy every moment of it!
Love, Maureen
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