Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Great Wall



The entrance to the Great Wall

Today was one visit that many of us had waited the whole trip for, The Great Wall of China. We were all up and out the door around 8 AM. It was about a 40 minute ride to a remote area of the wall. Our guides take us to this spot instead of the wall in Beijing because there were fewer tourist.



There it is!

One of the towers on the wall.
Our guide describing the different directions.
Ryan stops to capture a picture of the scenery.
Caitlin photographs one of the gardens before the wall.

Rob made it through the maze first because he cheated and jumped the walls.
Jimmy, John, Justin and Nikola wander through the maze.
Everyone who found their way through.



Last pit stop before climbing the wall.


The Great Wall of China
It was nice, we pretty much had the wall to ourselves. After getting some information from the tour guide, we were set free to walk the thousands of stairs for an hour and a half. I think we found out how the Chinese stay so thin, we all had quite the work out.

At the begining


Dr. France didn't come with us because of a migrane so we made a little sign. Will, Lindsay, Kristen, Megan and Laura.


The small white spots are some of the students who took the eastern route.


Will climbs the small steps up into the tower.



Some of the students pose on the steps.



Kristen and Bridget on the Great Wall.

This place was amazing


Will made it to the top.

Bridget, Laura and Kristen on the way back down the wall.

When the old wall started there was only one guide wall so it became a little dangerous.


Laura and our Chinese friend
It was a long way up



Kristen calling her family from the Great Wall


Megan and Lindsay

Jimmy, Laura, Chris, Jake, Bridget, Lindsay, Kristen and Megan







Bridget on a camel at the wall.
Around 11 we headed back to the hotel for lunch then boarded the bus for the city of Tianjin. We went to visit the Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, where we spent a few hours before heading off to dinner.


We could make our own dumplings at the restaruant


A few of our hosts welcoming us to Tianjin


The restaruant was very elaborate.


Rob enjoys being a King for a moment with Brandy and Codie on the Emperors throne.


Adam is King


Our hosts gave Brett a cake for his birthday.



He even got to blow out some candles to celebrate.

After dinner we took a quick stroll through the Tianjin TV tower. The restaurant at the top of the tower rotated so you could have a 360* view of the city.

The Tianjin TV tower at night.

Tianjin after dark


Jimmy, Will and Rob stand with one foot on the moving carpet and one on the stable platform.

After an exhausting day of walking all over town, we checked into our hotel and had a quiet evening.
Mark and Logan wait for their room keys.

3 comments:

Jessica Sztaimberg said...

How amazing are your pics!

This was an awesome experience to look at these.... I can't imagine what it was like to be up close and actually walk along the wall!

You are very lucky... the trip looks great! Do you speak Chinese?

Hopefully someday I can make it to China :)

Anonymous said...

Laura, Thank you for posting such a great blog site! It makes me feel like I am there with you. It is also more efficient than getting the news of the trip from Robert(Rob). Rob's Mom

BITWIT Systems said...

Laura,
Thank you so much for bringing us along on your WVU Graduate Trip to China. It was great fun following your path through China's amazing sights. Looks like you had the experience of a lifetime.
Great job on the blog.
Tim's Mom