The Great Wall of China
I'm not sure I ever thought I would get to see most of the things I am sharing, but definitely did not think this was possible. Until, I hosted Kenny Zhao as an exchange student in 2010. As with most of my Asian exchange students, he went to college in the United States and is currently working and living in Houston. Also, as I have stated before, I tell my exchange students that I will visit them when they go back to their countries. Since he did not go back to live, I wasn't sure I would make it. Well, it just so happened that the company he is working for has had several projects in China and he has been sent to China to work on those. During one of those times, he and his wife welcomed twins. So the extra incentive to go visit was added.
Travel Tip: Take advantage of the opportunity to visit friends and family members when they are living abroad. They will enjoy the visit and you get the benefit of their knowledge and expertise. Many times my hosts will tell me that they had never visited a place that they take me. So they get to be "tourists in their own town." I know that is what happens to me when I show people around New Orleans. I've done it enough to see most everything. I have certainly eaten enough beignets at Cafe du Monde. However, there are still things that I stumble upon that I have not done.
Although there were many amazing sights and experiences during my two weeks in China, the Great Wall was definitely one of those bucket list items. Below are pictures from that visit, which happened to be a gray and foggy day. At first, I was disappointed, but after looking at the pictures it did add an air of mystery to the wall. I also wanted to add that in China, entry to most museums, attractions, etc. are free to people 60 years or older - even for non Chinese.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Wall of China[4] is a series of fortifications in China. They were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. The first walls date to the 7th century BC; these were joined together in the Qin dynasty.[5][6] Successive dynasties expanded the wall system; the best-known sections were built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
To aid in defense, the Great Wall utilized watchtowers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and its status as a transportation corridor. Other purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls (allowing control of immigration and emigration, and the imposition of duties on goods transported along the Silk Road), and the regulation of trade.[7]
Here is Kenny (our happy tour guide) and his mom.
Parts of the wall were very crowded. I can only imagine what it would be on a clear sunny day.
The pictures below were at an inner wall. Not far from the main wall.
Thank you, Kenny!
"When one stands there and sees the Wall going to the peak of this mountain and realizes that it runs for hundreds of miles... that it was built over 2,000 years ago, I think that you would have to conclude that this is a great wall and that it had to be built by a great people." – Richard Nixon
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