The Great Wall of China.

Every picture tells a story.

The long long wall.

The tolls gates on the highways - we passed through two of these in our three hours journey.

The Great Wall Doctor arrives for first aid to an injured lady.

The Chinese love their lions.

It is a long way up.

The first glimpse of the Great Wall taken from the coach!

Moving on to the older part of the wall........................

Repairs to the roof.

On your bike!!

Not sure about you cruise folks..............................

The views are endless.

The long way down.

A look out tower.

The Lion King!

Local Transport

A Farm House.

The King is alive - Elvis from Reception married to Pearl.

I was training Arnold our Art Assistant in Tour Escorting and bought us these caps to get into the mood of the day! Once we had them everyone was buying them - all good fun.

The first set of steps.

Helen on the Great Wall.

Some local kids.

James and Paula on the Great Wall.

My feet are killing me.

A general view.

The Reservoir is frozen over.

Feeling dizzy!

The Chinese like their Court Yards.

With P&O Cruises we arrive in style.

The Coach drivers take a break by the Dining Rooms where we enjoyed a local lunch.

From L to R - Debbie, Carol, James, John and Bill. Regular bloggers!

Coach A1 - 13 has arrived.

Our Tour Agent at Zingang.

The old part.

Lots of trees planted everywhere. In the distance one of many factories we passed on the way.

Our Tour Guide Jenny and Arnold. Jenny was great and most informative.

A local lorry - daily life going on.

The Toilet Stop = Arcadia's convoy out in force.

Great view from the lovely coaches.

On the road again.......

It is a long way up.

A general view from the watch towers.

Graham our Port Presenter on the wall.

One step at a time - easy does it.

Lots of new apartment blocks going up around Zingang.

Mrs Fleckney on the wall - makes a change from Kolalas!

The local children appeared to be amused by us cruisers.

A general country side view.

A local street trader - business was brisk!

Good Day Everyone,

As promised here at the photographs of our day out from Xingang. One to remember and talk about for many a day to come.

Here is Graham's report on the Great Wall.

As we secured Arcadia alongside her berth in Xingang, the new port as it translates for Beijing, the sun was beginning to rise and take the chill from the air. Warm clothes would be the order of the day, at least for the first part. Our passengers were ready to leave the ship early and board the 46 coaches that had been reserved for them.

As we made our way out of the port area and on towards the town of Tanggu we all saw the new high rise accommodation that are being built to try and provide housing for the thousands of Chinese who flock to the big towns and cities in search of work and a better standard of living. Here, our passengers saw for the first time a side of China which they may not have realised existed.

After a traditional ‘village style’ lunch in a district of Tianjing I along with some 900 others made our way towards the Great Wall.

The scenery en route to ‘our’ section of the wall was really interesting to say the least, the high mountains running down to the grazing pastures of the local farmers. One interesting thing we did see was a reservoir that was covered in a layer of ice, evidence of the harsh winter that has only just left the area.

The Wall soon loomed in the distance and our anticipation grew as the driver parked as near as was possible to the entrance. This Wall should not forget is one of the Great Wonders of the World and for many it would be a visit that was a lifetimes ambition. It was in the mid 1980’s that the Chinese poured money into the restoration of this section at Huangyaguan and now we were about to climb a small section of it. Young and old alike were off like mountain goats barely stopping for breath all trying to climb at least a few dozen steps to admire the amazing and simply awe inspiring scene that was around them. Mother Nature has surely created a most fantastic vista here.

The steps were never the same height between the watch towers and some struggled to make the progress to the higher reaches, but no matter to just be here was enough for many. British and Australians and Americans all congratulated each other as they stopped for a view back towards the high mountains. My what an achievement the ancient Chinese made to build this structure over the most unfriendly terrain.

Mrs Fleckney who we all saw earlier on the ‘blog’ was in fine spirits as she headed back down the steps and a well deserved rest. What a day we all enjoyed and I understand those passengers who went to the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City also had equally enthralling experiences, ones that we can look back on now and in time will reflect on as we tell our families, friends and colleagues. Wow!

Thanks Graham for your report - I so enjoyed the day.

I will get some photographs of the Summer Palace and Forbidden City posted soon, In the meantime we are all set for the City of Shanghai tomorrow. The sea conditions have been kind to us.

Have a great week whatever you get up to!

All good wishes,

James.

'Some people go through a forest and see no firewood'