China
October 4 - 9, 2019
BEIJING
If you ever want to experience how celebrities feel with paparazzi, be two blonde-haired Americans and go to Beijing during the 70th Anniversary of the Republic of China. When we got off the subway, we were funneled into the heart of Tiananmen Square.. along with 1 million other Chinese nationals! We were lost and ended up wandering around for two hours (with our packs!) until we found our hostel.
People would not so discreetly take pictures as we walked down the street, ate dumplings, sat on steps, pretty much anytime we were outside. Older ladies would come up and ask for pictures. Justin perfectly captured some of my celebrity moments. The large crowds that gathered for the celebration made visiting the local sites even more crowded. However, we made our way to Beihai Park, the Forbidden City, and explored the hutongs.
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
We were ready to get out of the city and traveled two hours north of Beijing into the countryside to the Gubeikou Village. One of the walls of our hostel was actually a part of the Great Wall! We woke up early to catch sunrise on the Wall. It did not disappoint :) It was chilly in the morning hours but the sun warmed up as the day went on. From the north gate, our trek started on an unrefurbished portion of the Wall. For about four hours we didn't see anymore else. The refurbished portion was much more touristy, selling snacks and beers in the watchtowers. Definitely recommend for travelers and hikers alike!
After our six-hour hike, we wanted to explore the village. They were getting ready for a harvest festival. The whole town was being decorated with corn and peppers, it really felt like a community effort. Even jumped in on the action and helped grind down some salsa verde!
