A Great Day at the Great Wall
August 5, 2015
By Taylor
We woke up very early so we could
go to the Great Wall of China. I was excited to get out of the house and go see
one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We hired a driver named John Yellowcar
(that is how he translates his name into English). We drove 1.5 hours to get to
the Great Wall.
We took a cable car up to the
Great Wall. It was a little hazy (from air pollution like it almost always is
in Chinese cities), but the scenery was beautiful. There were lush green
mountains. The Great Wall was fantastic. There weren’t too many people either.
The Great Wall
Sarah Ann’s leapover picture
Rachel’s leapover picture
The girls really wanted pictures
of them doing leapovers (a step in Irish dance) on the Great Wall so we took
about a million pictures until we got them. The hike up the stairs on the wall
was steep but it was totally worth it. They first started building the Great
Wall over 2000 years ago to keep out invaders. There were guard towers every so
often where the guards could see approaching armies. While they were building
it, tons of slave laborers died. I learned in school that they buried many of
them right inside the wall.
On the bottom, I got a
traditional Chinese hat. I bargained with the shop owner to get a better price.
Then we drove to a small dumpling restaurant. It was cheap and the dumplings
were delicious.
Here I am with my traditional hat I bargained for
Next, we drove to the Summer
Palace. It’s where the Emperor lived in the summer out in the countryside (but
it’s not so much the countryside anymore). It was really hot and crowded. We
saw some building where the emperor, his family, and staff lived. Some were
really nice but others had fallen into disrepair. We also climbed a million
stairs to see a Buddhist temple. Then we took a dragon boat across a large
lake.
Taking a dragon boat across the
lake at the Summer Palace
That night, my dad, Rachel, Sarah
Ann, and I went to dinner. Christian was too tired so he didn’t go. My mom
stayed home with him. There we ate Peking duck. Our family ate Peking duck on
Monday but I was too sick to enjoy it then. This time, I thought it was
delicious. I hadn’t thought I would like it but it was really good. I ate about
four tortillas with duck meat in them and I think my dad ate seven.
Nice look Tay. Soccer shirt and shorts with a traditional Chinese hat. If you wear that in Wisconsin, you may start a new fashion trend! Everyone on your soccer team will want a Chinese hat Love, Grandma Albrecht
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better and were able to enjoy the peking duck. The great wall looks impressive. How did the emperor get to the summer palace? Did he go for lots of rides on his dragon boat?
ReplyDeleteSo glad you felt better, Taylor. Very interesting about the Great Wall and the girls look amazing doing their leapovers there! I bought a hat like yours over 40 years ago in Taiwan. I thought then they called them "Coolie Hats." Glad you enjoyed the Peking Duck! Love, Grandma Huber
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the Great Wall was one of the favorite places you visited. Next week will be totally different with Lassen Volcanic Park and Crater Lake. I did buy a nice tent for you to sleep in, along with pads to sleep on. I think the girls should do their leapovers on Lassen Peak. Grandpa
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