Great Wall, the Orphanage, and more

January 4: After surprisingly clear blue skies, we woke up this morning to the expected Chinese smog. After another delicious buffet breakfast, complete with french fries, raw onions, and hot milk, we drove to the Temple of Heaven. This city park is the favorite gathering spot for Beijing's retirees. We saw lots of Tai Chi, hackey sack and other cool exercise groups--the favorite being a group of professional kung fu masters. Our wonderful tour guide, Jack, convinced them to give us uncoordinated Americans a lesson. We became quite the spectacle as we learned a simple sequence--I'm not sure who drew more of a crowd, the masters or the Americans. Afterwards, they showed us what real kung fu looked like--I can confirm it looked nothing like what we were attempting.

We then walked through groups of old ladies knitting, playing cards, or singing classic Chinese music to arrive at the Temple of Heaven, a 14-story Buddhist temple, built completely without nails, that has stood for hundreds of years. We continued to be spectacles as Chinese tourists lined up to take pictures with the Americans. Even with all that attention, this was a great experience that showed the everyday lives of Beijing-ers.

 Next, we made it to perhaps the most must-see activity of our trip: the Great Wall of China. We visited the Mutianyu section, which was restored by the Chinese government and is a bit less crowded than Badaling--although in January, it wasn't  much of a problem. The group walked through some very pushy vendors to take the cable car (more like a sketchy ski lift) up to the Great Wall. We gained a new respect for ancient Chinese guards as we hiked up hundreds of very steep stairs. Some of us ventured out to the less restored sections (technically off limits, but left unguarded, so.....). Unfortunately, the view was marred by smog but we could still experience a bit of what it would be like to be a soldier on the wall (and to be very glad we weren't Mongol warriors). After quite a bit of exploring, we got to take a toboggan ride down the hill. It was like the Matterhorn ride at Disneyland but without seat belts.

January 5: We had an early start driving to the Shepherd's Field orphanage, where we were greeted by a bundle of very joyful children. Most of them experienced some sort of disability, and were cared for in this facility. We made (or attempted to make)a simple craft--fans to celebrate Chinese New Year. We had packed some paper, glue, pipe cleaners, and the kids's favorite supply: gold paint, which promptly spread to every available surface. We got to hang out with the kids for a couple hours, reading books, playing games, and visiting their houses. After doing all the typical tourist-y activities, it was a wonderful experience.

We then went to visit the Capitol Museum, which houses a multitude of ancient Chinese artifacts. We gazed upon jade carvings, calligraphy, and lots and lots of pots and jars while learning about Chinese culture and history. After our visit, we went to the Hongqioa Pearl Market and got to practice our bargaining skills. After collecting our loot (silk scarves, tea cups, and knock off Converse and Rolex, among other things), we enjoyed yet another excellent dinner.

We had some free time both nights. Most of us went to visit a night market near our hotel, which offered squid on a stick, fried scorpions, and very smelly fermented tofu, among other things. None of us were brave enough to try the insects, but Courtney did get some sugar-coated strawberries (and thankfully her stomach suffered no ill effects.)