Beijing, 05/10/2005 at 23:00
Day 19: Shanhaiguan: End of the Wall
Finally ready for a bit of sightseeing in Shanhaiguan this day was about seeing the first part of the Wall. We started out early in the morning at “The First Pass Under Heaven”, which is the first important tower on the Wall. Having enjoyed this we took the cableway up the first mountain pass that the Wall crosses. At the top we had spectacular view of the entire area including the ocean, lake Yansai, and a monastery. You could see how the Wall, crawled its way down the mountain, through the town of Shanhaiguan into the ocean – a bit like a very long dragon. It leads to the “Old Dragon’s Head”, which is where the Wall begins or ends and where we went afterwards. We were standing on the very first part of the Wall – practically in the ocean. A very special feeling. To finalize the day we went to the Temple of the Sea God to enjoy the sunset. In the evening we had our most spicey dinner so far, which we tried to drown with Great Wall wine.