May 17, 2013 Beijing - The Great Wall and the Ming Tombs

May 17, 2013

Beijing - The Great Wall and the Ming Tombs

Again our tour Guide, Lee met us at 8:00 AM and Shifui our driver came soon afterwards. After a little discussion with Lee on the schedule for the day, we agreed to go to the Ming Tombs first while we were fairly fresh and then in the afternoon we would climb the Great Wall. This was a good plan as the detail history of the Ming Emperors that Lee gave us was very interesting to hear and would not be absorbed after a heavy lunch. What was so amazing about the tomb was their construction with their high ceiling and a magnificent free standing marble arch on top of well preserved marble walls. Another interesting feature of the tomb was the museum of articles taken from the tombs of the 13^th emperor. Before lunch we visited the Jade Factory where they explained the difference types of jade and how jade can be carved in a great variety of shapes.

The visit to the Great Wall was the highlight of the whole day. We saw the wall at the point where it goes down one side of a hill, across a river and up the hill on the other side of the river. It was a very spectacular view. We took lots of pictures, some of which are shown below.  

Dorothy and Con at entrance of one of the Ming Emperors's  tomb  touching the head of the lucky  turtle. Young  Chinese boy wanted to be in the picture with us.

                                                          

Map of large area where the Ming Emperors have  their  tombs.

                                                 

Model of area where the Ming Emperors have  their  tombs

                                       

Map of area of the Ming Emperors tomb that we visited

Decorative carving on staircase leading to Ming Emperor's  tomb  that we  visited.

                                                    

Map of Ming Emperor's tomb that we visited.

                                          

Front Chamber of Ming Emperor's tomb

Our Guide, Lee and Dorothy in front of large coffin that was a replica of the  Emperor's  coffin.  The smaller  coffin was that of his  wife.

Note the well built stone arch over the chamber  that  housed the  Ming  Emperor's  coffin.

                                                 

Dorothy and Con in the middle chamber of the tomb.

Underground entrance gate to tomb area.

Our Guide, Lee and Dorothy in front of entrance  to Ming  Emperor's  tomb.

Ticket booth and  entrance pathway to Ming  Emperor's  tomb./

Circular wall surrounding tomb that designated it was heaven.

Dorothy in front of decorative entrance gate to Ming Emperor's  tomb.

Emperor's crown that was in the museum of artifacts found in the  Ming  Emperor's  tomb.

Con touching the stone with Mao's saying that states  to be a man  one has to visit the  Great  Wall .  The  stone is on the wall and a watch tower is in the background.

Dorothy and Con touching the stone with Mao's saying.

The watch tower preventing entry by the river. The Great Wall  continues  on the  other  side of the river and up the  hill  on the other side of  river.

Dorothy and Con on a major watch tower with a view in slit of the wall  of the  smaller  watch  tower  that protects  entry  by the river.

Dorothy and Con at one of the larger watch towers.

Dorothy and Con at the outside wall of a large watch tower.

Dorothy and Con behind a cannon at the large watch tower.

Dorothy and Con  touching another plaque with Mao's saying  with the large  watch  tower  in the  background.

From a smaller watch tower can be seen 2 other watches towers  on  the Great  Wall.

Con on his climb up a section of wall that goes over a hill.

Dorothy and Con on the Great Wall of China.