BEIJING - CHINA - GREAT WALL AND MING TOMBS

The defenses are built so that one enters through the outer gate into a fortified enclosure with battlements on all sides, and then would have to pass through another gate to enter into China. At this point the Great Wall is oriented north (outside) - to south (inside) China, in a pass through the hills, but once one is on the wall we see that it trends mostly east and west. This courtyard also has its complement of souvineer shops and a ticket gate. The wall rises quickly up the slopes on either side of the pass and extends as far as the eye can see along the crests of ridges. There are many towers and many branches off for secondary walls.

A modern highway now connects Beijing with the nearest section of the Great Wall - here as we approach by bus sections of the wall already loom on the precipices above us.

View from the bus window as it passes one of the fortification towers next to the road - other parts of the wall are visible on the heights.

Well, here we were passing a heavily laden truck - but the wall is visible on the ridge line above. Note that the smog is heavy even here in the mountains far from Beijing.

View from the bus as we near to wall - the road passes in a tunnel underneath the ridge on which the wall is located - here is a shrine.

Now the bus approaches the pass from the south with the wall before us. Note the heavy haze even here in the mountains.

The haze is intense - view of the wall from the bus as we near the pass. Some eager folks are way up there on foot.

The bus passes one of the huge fortress towers - the wall stretches into the haze on the far ridges.

Just past the fortress tower for another view of the Great Wall stretching over the ridges.

The wall climbs nearly impassible mountain terrain - view from the bus

The wall climbs nearly impassible mountain terrain - view from the bus - next the bus passes under the wall in a tunnel and turns to the parking area and gift shops on the north side of the wall

Some copies of the famous Terracotta army figures - here in a gift shop next to the Great Wall - these look like jade, but must be painted for that effect

More terracotta army soldiers - these would make interesting guards outside a family home. These are in natural clay color

Small versions of the famous terracotta army figures are for sale all over China - this is a huge gift shop next to the Great Wall - obvious tourist trap but full of patrons.

More near life sized warriors - the price tag shows this one is only 12,800 yuan - a bargain - plus shipping of course.

Dolls to suit every young girl's fancy

These Chinese opera masks are also found in many tourist gift shops.

Here is the upper portion of the north gate for the Great Wall entrance fortification. This fortress has two gates with an enclosed garrison space between them. The invader who broke through this northern gate would find himself in this enclosure, blocked by the southern gate and subject to attack from all sides. The gate is close, to the south from the tourist bus stop and restaurant and bazar.

Here we are inside the enclosure between northern and southern gates and looking back up at the tower on the northern wall.

Here we are inside the enclosure between the two gates looking at the southern gate from inside. Note how the Great Wall is on the ridge above.

A row of Ming cannon - note the southern gate in the background. Also note the merlons and embrasures on the wall - this wall overlooks the road between the two gates, from here defenders could fire on anyonewho broke through a gate.

View up to the eastern section of the wall above the gate in the pass. Obviously this is a favorite place for tourists - mostly Chinese.

Inside the enclosure between northern and southern gates now we find more tourist shops - note our wonderful travel guide with her rainbow held aloft. The wall climbs up rapidly to the west.

The Vantage tour group is gathered round our travel director awaiting instructions

happy tourists entering and exiting through the pay gate between the enclosure and the Great Wall itself

More cannon displayed in the enclosure between northern and southern gates.

View from inside the enclosure up to one of the towers on the Great Wall.

Tourists waiting to get their photos taken with costumed reenactors.

View to the east from a point on the wall just west of the gate tower and enclosure, seen in the trees at bottom of photo. - note the heavy smog haze.

View of the wall looking east

Upper part of a tower from inside. Note the row of bricks for support of the wooden floor for second story now removed. That would be a firing platform for defenders.

Tourists on the western section of wall between two of the towers.

View to the eastern section of the wall from a point on the western section. Note the gate enclosure fortress through the trees at the right bottom of the photo. Note also the camera perched on top of the tower.

The wall goes on and on in both directions, but we only sampled a short section as it also goes up and up.

View down from the wall into the enclosure between the double gates. The southern gate is just visible in the center of the photo to right of the red flag. This fortress enclosure would have housed a considerable garrison in addition to serving as a complex defensive position.

Larry and Sybil Michalove and Ruth Sloan standing in one of the defensive towers - note the supports for a second floor above.

View of the wall - a short dip and then a very steep climb along the ridge line.

View of the wall from inside one of the towers.

Here the wall starts rising so steeply that the walkway turns into a stairway.

The Great Wall seems to go on forever across ridge line after ridge line and thousands of visitors climb along it as far as their legs will carry them - note again the haze - here is a prime location for a Communist Party propaganda sign in preparation for the Olympic games. Below is the parking lot beside the entrance gate.

Here is a close-up view of that sign for the Olympics

Looking back down this section of the wall toward the entrance area one gets some idea of the steepness of the climb.

More of the wall snaking around in the distance seen through the heavy smog haze.

Some tourists enjoying the visit - note the building complex well below - that is the area between the two gates - the inner gate wall is on the right.

View back down the section of the wall toward the gate complex - the far section of wall is lost into the smog

The upper section of the gate tower and the wall beyond.

Now we are walking on the other side of the gate along the easier section of the wall for climbers.

This section of the wall is crowded with tourists out for a pleasant hike. - note the impressive towers.

Another hilltop tower at a place where the wall turns along another ridge.

Standing on the right section of the wall now looking back down to the gate complex and the left section that climbs more steeply - where we were previously. This is as far up this section of the wall as we could manage to hike.

Directly below is the upper level of the entrance gate and to its left part of the enclosure between the two gates.

Standing beside three cannon barrels.

The inner gate in the enclosure wall - note how narrow it is - barely wide for a cart - note the crenelated walls on either side of the roadway through the enclosure between the gates.

The outer (north) gate in the wall - although at this point the wall is actually running south (left) to north (right) from this gate so the outer gate is west of the inner gate behind us. The wall itself crosses on top of this gate, not the inner gate.

We are back outside the wall shopping in the extensive bazzar area - With so many small kiosks I expect profits will go to the most aggressively entrepreneural of the sales people.

We are back outside the wall shopping in the extensive bazzar area - With so many small kiosks I expect profits will go to the most aggressively entrepreneural of the sales people.

More sales stalls.

Enjoying an excellent lunch in a large restaurant in the tourist shop area adjacent to the wall. The tour director wisely scheduled lunch for after the strenuous hike on the wall rather than before - by this time we were famished and greatly appreciated the extensive buffet selections.

After lunch a look back at the wall from the north (east) as more tourists continue to climb

A last look at the wall as it snakes its way across the ridge above the tourist area - as we board the bus for Beijing.

The recent superhighway passes a large tourist hotel complex on the way back south - a section of the Great Wall is on the ridge.

From the Great Wall the tour moves to the valley of the Ming Dynasty tombs. The description is the next photo

A guide map and description of the Ming Tomb complex

Entrance gate into the Ming Tomb complex

Another descriptive board along the Sacred Way to the tombs.

The column has a dragon winding around it to the top, like similar columns at the Forbidden City

The turtle symbol of longevity stands guard.

Another dragon column

A view along the 'sacred way' - quite a long walk.

The animals are in pairs and both seated and standing.

The lion does not appear to be too ferocious.

Here is the next animal in the line.

View of some of the animals along the 'sacred way' or 'spirit way'. As can be seen here they are in pairs kneeling and standing.

Note that this is a Bactarian camel.

Another bactarian camel

This elephant is taking it easy over thec centuries

Here is a lively fellow - elephant standing in place.

Not sure what this animal is -

Here is a horse waiting centuries for a rider

A solid horse at attention

The human guards look a lot more ferocious than the animals Here is a senior military official.

Here is a civilian court official holding his beard while waiting to be called.

Another senior court civilian official in waiting

A close-up of a court official on duty

Here we have our wonderful tour director "Kelly" standing in front of a court official - gives a idea of the scale of these statues.

A lovely flower garden outside the Ming Tomb complex

This map shows the location of the various shrines, tombs and temples within the Ming Tomb valley

Here is an excellent explaination and description of the main mausoleum in the Ming tombs complex - that of Emperor Zhu Di - His reign name was Yongle and he is also the emperor who moved the capital to Beijing and built both Temple of Heaven and Imperial Palace.

Ming Tombs building

Table and small stools in form of elephants at Ming tombs.

Ming tombs building

Ming tombs - main mausoleum

Ming Tombs main mausoleum

Sculpture - head of a dragon at Ming tombs.

Entrance gate at Ming tombs

Entrance gate at Ming tombs

Tower gate at Ming tombs

Ming tombs massive tower.

Ming Tombs building

Side view - stairs to Ming tomb

Side view - stairs to Ming tomb

Ming Tombs plaza