Beijing Part 1: Great Wall & Summer Palace

After dragging my family around on all these big adventures during summer holidays past, Mark and the kids were finally looking forward to relaxing in the Hawaiian sun like beached seals. And then one day, as we began to research flights to Hawaii, I thought heck, if we're going halfway across the Pacific, why not go ALL the way?

Flights from Hawaii to Beijing were $300, and then from Beijing to Siem Reap, and Siem Reap to Chiang Mai, even less.

And thus, Mark's and the kids' relaxing summer vaca suddenly became yet another grand adventure. The biggest one yet. So after a week in Hawaii (HERE), we flew away at midnight and arrived in China in the wee hours of the morning where, after some major hiccups in Chinese immigration, we finally met a driver who whisked us away straight to THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, MUTIANYU SECTION.

If you're ever in Beijing, Linda's Driver service is the best. Our driver Fred took us all the way up the wall, helped us purchase our tickets and even surprised the kids with candy.

After a ton of research, we decided on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall for several reasons:

1. It's less touristy than some other sections closer to Beijing

2. You can take a cable car up

3. You get to toboggan down. Not joking. We tobogganed down the Great Wall of China!

 Here's the cable car.

 And suddenly, we were standing on the Great Wall in all its glory!

 I took a gazillion pictures.

 And I had to just hug this Great Wall, because WOW--we were here!

 It was a hot day with temperatures near 100, but those gorgeous watchtowers were shady and cool and gave us relief between climbing the snaking wall of stairs.

I love how things translate between Chinese and English. For instance:

The size of the Great Wall is just stunning!

 After the toboggan ride to the bottom, we enjoyed Subway sandwiches and Baskin Robbins. And then got Gryffy a new pair of shoes, since he completely wore out his crocs on the Great Wall.

 Our next stop, OLYMPIC PARK and the famous Bird's Nest.

 And next, the enormous SUMMER PALACE, with lots more steps! Man, these kids were good sports!

 This is the palace where the Dragon Lady would come to escape the sweltering heat and also make offerings.

 All around, people were creating art and playing cards and games.

 We walked long corridors like this.

 And began the hike to that tower in the background, which holds a many-armed Buddha statue inside.

 Check out these stairs!

We passed these boats on the hike back to meet our driver, who swept us away to our hostel for the night where we crashed with exhaustion.

 It was a great first day in Beijing!