The Great Wall

No visit to Beijing is complete without a trip to the Great Wall.  We went a bit further away to the Jinshanling section because it is much less restored and much much less touristy.  The whole place is a picture bonanza.  I have given just a splash of pictures of what was a perfect day.

Our guide Fan doesn't care for steep climbs.

Beijing 北京

After a few days in Xi'an, we arrived in Beijing.  Beijing is truly the epicenter of the Chinese World. The city is pleasant, historical, and calm.  Easily navigable, Beijing has many hip areas and a lot to see if you have the time.  Of course we did the classics like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Lama Temple, and of course the Great Wall (not pictured here).  We also got to see some local Beijing culture in local food places, the most amazing duck I've ever eaten, and small inexpensive watering holes.

The Yonghe Lamasery in Beijing.

What I dream about at night.

The Forbidden City.

At the Summer Palace.

Holy Mount Hua Shan 華山

Near the city of Xi'an lies Mount Hua, one of the five great mountains of China and an important place for Taoism.  Once ranked as one of the most dangerous hikes in the world, the government has expanded trails, added cable cars, and closed some of the more dangerous parts.  That being said, each year some people die on the mountain because it is still dangerous and the number of people on it is incredible.  Eva and I took the route of taking the cable car to the West Peak and then completing the 5 peak circuit and going down the North Peak.

Taking the cable car to the West Peak.

A crane covered in Toaist prayers.

Getting ready for the plank walk.

Hanging on to avoid the 1000 meter drop.

The Taoist temple at the end of the plank.

A human traffic jam.

Basically China.

So many more stairs.

Waiting for our bullet train back to Xi'an.

The End of the Silk Road

Working as a teacher of course comes with the perks of school holidays.  We had a week break for Easter this year and decided to go to Mainland China.  We made our first stop at the city of Xi'an. Xi'an was the capital of the Chinese empire during the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and early Tang dynasties (1100 BC until about 900 AD). Xi'an remained an important city even after the capital moved as the end of the trade routes connection China to the West.  The center of Xi'an is surrounded by a massive city wall which covers several kilometers of track.  It is possible to rent a bicycle and make the full circuit around the city.

Xi'an has a large Muslim quarter with street food worth making the trip just for eating.

Making dumplings.

Full on dumplings, Eva needs something refreshing.

Of course, most tourists come to Xi'an to see one thing, the famous Terracotta Warriors.  Discovered in just 1976, the Terracotta Army is a bit outside of Xi'an.  Still an active archaeological site, the work is being done to slowly uncover the figures and painstakingly put them back piece by piece.

The Bell Tower in Central Xi'an.