New discovery
Our flight landed into Beijing amid incredibly dense smog. The smog lasted through Sunday, with Sunday's air quality being one of the worst days of the year so far. Sunday night we had a hard rain, and this morning we woke to blue skies and immaculate air.
I was in awe of how clear the air was and the great the visibility from our kitchen window. I scanned the mountain range. Then I noticed for the first time something that looked like a twisting ribbon in the distance. I did not think it was possible that we could see any section of the Great Wall from our apartment. Since Randy normally leaves his binoculars in the car, I had to use my camera to get a better look.
I zoomed in.
Almost a year in this apartment and we had no idea we could see Juyongguan (which we last visited on a snowy day).
Now that we know it is there, Randy thinks we will be able to pick it out even on less clear days. He has hoped that some part of the Great Wall or even a stand-alone watchtower would be visible from Changping. We searched the mountain view we had in our previous apartment occasionally, but the direction was wrong. We looked from our kitchen before but the air quality and light never made it so obvious.
I was in awe of how clear the air was and the great the visibility from our kitchen window. I scanned the mountain range. Then I noticed for the first time something that looked like a twisting ribbon in the distance. I did not think it was possible that we could see any section of the Great Wall from our apartment. Since Randy normally leaves his binoculars in the car, I had to use my camera to get a better look.
I zoomed in.
Almost a year in this apartment and we had no idea we could see Juyongguan (which we last visited on a snowy day).
Now that we know it is there, Randy thinks we will be able to pick it out even on less clear days. He has hoped that some part of the Great Wall or even a stand-alone watchtower would be visible from Changping. We searched the mountain view we had in our previous apartment occasionally, but the direction was wrong. We looked from our kitchen before but the air quality and light never made it so obvious.
Comments
Someone I work with who says he knows a lot about what's going on in the world when it comes to "green initiatives" says that the Chinese are leading the way when it comes to alternative fuels. For example, the Chinese are further ahead in reducing fossil fuel emissions through nuclear or other power means. Is that true? I keep hearing from you how bad the air quality is. It seems to me the Chinese are leading the world in green house emissions, and are more responsible for global warming than America is. Your thoughts?