China trip, part one

We booked a whirl-wind Chinese tour through a Korean travel agent for Mindy's holiday from work. We won't do this again. Too rushed, lots of problems with specifics on the itinerary, very little flexibility. I would now say just get some tickets, phrase book & maps, book some hotels & make your own itinerary with the help of the internet. Even with all the problems, it was still an amazing trip.

Here I am on the deck of the ship we have just spent 24 hours on, sailing from Incheon to Tianjin. As we got closer to the port, more and more ships appeared.

The next day we woke up & drove to the Ming Tombs, specifically the Changling site.

Here we are in front of the Hall of Eminent Favor.

The Soul Tower. Behind this structure is the Changling burial mound.
The view of the courtyard from the Soul Tower.

Guards at the Hall of Eminent Flowers.

This is a huge bronze statue of Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, and a pile of money left in tribute, inside the Hall of Eminent Flowers.

We left the Tombs & went to a jade carving factory, then we ate lunch, and then a visit to a copper enamelling factory.

And then, a drive to the Great Wall.


Some men working at the Wall, sweeping, picking up debris.


There are plenty of vendors around the cable car drop point & restroom area. This guy was not too friendly at first but warmed up with some chatting from Mindy & Jennis. He's boiling eggs in that kettle & selling snack cakes.

A view of the wall through the graffitti-scratched window of the cable car.


A camel waiting to be photographed. Jennis wanted to get a photo with the camel so we stopped on our way out of the parking area. Our driver and tour guide will soon be shouting at the men who own the camel, for jacking up the price asked for photo opportunities after agreeing on a lower group rate. A long uncomfortable argument and threatened phone calls to the police ended with the cheaper price being paid, and us getting the hell out of there.
Here's Mindy on the camel.
This is the late afternoon of our first full day in China.