nomad_teacher (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} nomad_teacher) wrote,@ 2006-01-01 23:59:00 |
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New years... And what a year...
January First, 2006. New years day, and I woke up in a cheap hostel in Beijing.
Today was spent walking the Great Wall of China, or at least a small 2 kilometer section of it about 60 km north of Beijing City. It's a little over touristy (no big surprises there), but pleasant enough and there's far fewer beggars and high pressure souvenir sales folks than in and around the city monuments and sites.
If you're ever trying to get there, skip the tourist buses and just hop on the route 919 bus. (It's terminals and stops are marked on any half decent map of the city). I recomend getting on at the terminal, as it does get to be standing room only pretty darn quick. Ignore the guys who try to lead you away from the bus terminal, including the ones who insist that the 919 does not go to the Wall. Its about 90 minutes each way, and the bus runs every 15 to 30 minutes from about 9am to about 5 pm (but do check the last return time when you get there).
Good day, good weather for the most part, if a little hazy, and some good photographic results, though nothing really great.
A pleasant day all told.
A few pics from the wall...
Click the picture for a bigger copy.
January First, 2006. New years day, and I woke up in a cheap hostel in Beijing.
Today was spent walking the Great Wall of China, or at least a small 2 kilometer section of it about 60 km north of Beijing City. It's a little over touristy (no big surprises there), but pleasant enough and there's far fewer beggars and high pressure souvenir sales folks than in and around the city monuments and sites.
If you're ever trying to get there, skip the tourist buses and just hop on the route 919 bus. (It's terminals and stops are marked on any half decent map of the city). I recomend getting on at the terminal, as it does get to be standing room only pretty darn quick. Ignore the guys who try to lead you away from the bus terminal, including the ones who insist that the 919 does not go to the Wall. Its about 90 minutes each way, and the bus runs every 15 to 30 minutes from about 9am to about 5 pm (but do check the last return time when you get there).
Good day, good weather for the most part, if a little hazy, and some good photographic results, though nothing really great.
A pleasant day all told.
A few pics from the wall...
Click the picture for a bigger copy.
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