Great Wall Changes
On a recent Sunday, after we got home from Mass, we decided to take a drive up to our favorite section of Great Wall. We go there often, partly because it is not terribly far from us and partly because we just love it so. Sunday's bonus, too, was that we had the possibility of meeting up with a Beijinger I know from twitter and his kids. They happened to be in the area near there, so it had the makings of a fun afternoon.
First, though, we were barely out of the Ming Tombs area and we met up with high wind and crazy rain clouds. We wondered if rain, wind, and hail would continue to be a part of our Great Wall excursion this spring.
We elected to press on, arriving at the piece of Wall in time to watch the storm roll out of there. We were encouraged, by the way, by the absence of hail on our drive.
More after the jump
After we were joined by the @fishjourner family, we started to make our way to that familiar Great Wall.
However everything looked different than we had seen it before, and as recently as only a month or two ago.
Much of the trees and bushes that covered the Wall had been cleared away. Not only the brush, but several centuries of dirt that was deposited there as well.
And in the distance, we could see scaffolding and stacks of white sacks. More signs of work being done.
While we don't make a Marco Polo claim on this part of the Great Wall, we assume that it isn't well-known because we seldom see many people there, if any at all. It isn't obvious to us why the restoration work, except for some possible future plan to control and charge for access.
"I'd pay money if they'd just keep it the same," I said to Randy.
This is how it looked on March 30 of this year, a beautiful study in decay and how nature reclaims her own. I sometimes, when we are out there alone on quiet days, describe it as Ozymandian.
It was only a matter of time, I guess, that someone would turn their attention towards this spot. The views are too incredible not to share. Just because I am strongly attached to this doesn't make it mine.
It has been a great place to watch the seasons change, to enjoy some rare snow, and for the kids to have something special for Halloween when all other plans fell through. We could often count, too, on some rare quiet and solitude out here, nearly impossible to achieve in a city of 21 million.
At least we got pictures the last few years. Tons of pictures.
(March 30 2014)
First, though, we were barely out of the Ming Tombs area and we met up with high wind and crazy rain clouds. We wondered if rain, wind, and hail would continue to be a part of our Great Wall excursion this spring.
We elected to press on, arriving at the piece of Wall in time to watch the storm roll out of there. We were encouraged, by the way, by the absence of hail on our drive.
More after the jump
After we were joined by the @fishjourner family, we started to make our way to that familiar Great Wall.
However everything looked different than we had seen it before, and as recently as only a month or two ago.
Much of the trees and bushes that covered the Wall had been cleared away. Not only the brush, but several centuries of dirt that was deposited there as well.
And in the distance, we could see scaffolding and stacks of white sacks. More signs of work being done.
While we don't make a Marco Polo claim on this part of the Great Wall, we assume that it isn't well-known because we seldom see many people there, if any at all. It isn't obvious to us why the restoration work, except for some possible future plan to control and charge for access.
"I'd pay money if they'd just keep it the same," I said to Randy.
This is how it looked on March 30 of this year, a beautiful study in decay and how nature reclaims her own. I sometimes, when we are out there alone on quiet days, describe it as Ozymandian.
It was only a matter of time, I guess, that someone would turn their attention towards this spot. The views are too incredible not to share. Just because I am strongly attached to this doesn't make it mine.
It has been a great place to watch the seasons change, to enjoy some rare snow, and for the kids to have something special for Halloween when all other plans fell through. We could often count, too, on some rare quiet and solitude out here, nearly impossible to achieve in a city of 21 million.
At least we got pictures the last few years. Tons of pictures.
(March 30 2014)
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