Wow - an exhausting, amazing, even emotional day... Had a lovely man take us first to the ming tombs, where emperors were buried deep underground more than 500 years ago. Was fascinating. Then on to the Great Wall of China. Still feels surreal just writing that! It was extraordinary, steep, quiet (!), beautiful. Also crazy - who builds a wall like that across the top of a mountain range...! Quite an emotional, even spiritual time, book ended by a crazily scary chairlift ride to the top, and a crazily kitsch toboggan ride to the bottom.
Then back to the airport to come to Shanghai.
Was a day in the country - great to get a glimpse of life outside the big city. Wheelbarrows on roads, tall piles of house bricks everywhere, frozen rivers, modern metal exercise equipment on the side of the road in open spaces.
Then to arrive in Shanghai, which is immediately clear to be affluent, buzzing and with an amazing vibe - was such a contrast!! Beijing has no "atmosphere" - it is a surprisingly quiet place considering all the people, whereas Shanghai feels quite the opposite.
Really looking forward to exploring tomorrow, but a good sleep will help me take stock again, and prepare for the next onslaught! Having a wonderful time, but had forgotten that travel to such different cultures is emotional, tiring, challenging and uncomfortable. It is so wonderful to be doing it with my husband who is my strength!
One last note - we had the most surprising innovation on our Air China flight tonight. A camera looking where the front wheel is, looking forward and down at the ground to give a view of the runway during take off, ascent, landing and docking at the airport. Was truly bizarre!