David S. Demarest

Yesterday was a day spent on tour, with, of all companies, Grey Line. Nevertheless, it was a good tour and well worthwhile.

There were four of us, plus the guide and driver. A man from Toronto, and a couple from Glasgow. We visited one of the Ming tombs, a restored portion of the Great Wall, a jade factory, a factory where they make the beautiful vases (all offered for sale, of course), the Olympic Village (we drove through), and a Chinese traditional medicine clinic where a couple of us had our feet massaged and a brief check up my a traditional “physician”. Again, they tried to sell us herbs for our remedies, but there really was no pressure from anyone.

The Ming tomb we visited was especially interesting in that the tomb itself has not been excavated. Having learned from past mistakes, the Chinese are apparently unwilling to do such an excavation until such time as it can be done without risking the contents. Given the type of underground structure, that may be a while.

Off to Bangkok today. I suspect China will appear tame in comparison.

  Information on the Ming Tombs      The tomb we visited

  An artifact from another tomb.      

 The Great Wall.  Did I mention portions are very steep, with very irregular steps?

  A ways up the portion of the Wall we visited.