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Hi!
Sorry about the slow progress with the photos..we can only upload 2 at a time!!
Last tuesday we went to the great wall. The wall was started in 5th century BC as different sections, it was unified as one by the first emperor of the Qin dynasty. At its peak it was 12,000km long but now is only 9,000km. We did a 10.5km treck on the Jinshanling to Simatai section. The treck was hard and hot and all the steps reminded us of the Inca trail! It was worth it - the views were amazing and we zip wired down off the wall at the end.
Back in Beijing we weren't able to get the night train to Tai'an, but eventually found a hostel in Beijing not full! We finally made it to Tai'an on wednesday on a very expensive standing train ticket! On thursday we climbed 6,000 steps to the top of Tai'shan. This is one of the holiest Taoist mountains in china. It was very touristy..if u make it to the top you live 100 yrs! (we took a bus 1/2 way :os). At the top was like a little town with shops, flats and hotels as well as temples! Unfortunately the camera battery ran out so no photos!
Then the ordeal began...Nishal smelt and Claire didn't brush her teeth for 2 days!! We took the fast train back to Beijing (paying to stand again- now learnt to be more organised!). Spent the day in Beijing then took a night train to Datong arriving at 6.30am. We took a tour to the hanging temple in Heng Shan built 1,500 years ago on the side of a cliff wall. Then on to the Yungang buddha caves where there were giant carvings of buddha in the sandstone mountain from 400AD. They were quite impressive, the biggest buddha at 17m high. That evening we took another overnight train to Pingyao. We arrived at 7am and finally got a shower!
Pingyao is a small pretty walled town. Its still entirely surrounded by its wall, and has nice buildings and shops. We found a nice hostel and seem to be back on the western tourist route which is making things much easier!
Thats up to now..well done if you read all the way down to here! We're off to Xi'an tonight - another night train.
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