The alarm went off at 5.30 this morning because we arranged to meet Mr Qin today at 7am to go to Mutianyu Great Wall (Last time we went to Simatai Great Wall and so this time we wanted to try another part of the Wall)--- yes, he was so good that we decided to have him driving us around again today! In fact we were planning to leave at 7.30-8.00, but he told us that we should leave at 7am to beat the traffic and tourists.
Well, it's Saturday and there's not as much traffic around. We overtook a few coaches en route, and we were one of the first people there (apart from the street vendors). The ticket was RMB81 per person--- a bit expensive but that included the entrance fee, chairlift up to the hill, the tobaggon on the way down and RMB1 insurance! Were the chairlift and tobaggon safe?
As soon as we arrived at the Great Wall, a woman in warrior costume grabbed hold of Russell and insisted of having pictures taken.... Very tacky, but then we didn't do any such things last time. It's RMB30 per photo and she thought I only took 2 photos.... but what she didn't know was that I actually took 3.... Wow, "buy two, get one free"---- what a bargain (not)!
We made a right turn and started our walk on the wall. Not too difficult though part of it was very steep, and it was really peaceful before all the other tourists arrived. Unlike Simatai, this part of the Great Wall was restored and so the steps were not crumbling and it at least looked a lot safer. We walked past the point where the restoration stopped, and the contrast was quite interesting. Took lots of pictures as it was really sunny. As we were carrying our tripods also, some kids on a school trip must have thought we were professional photographers/models (from the ugly village probably!) and insisted on having a picture taken with us!
After two and a half hours on the Great Wall, we were ready to head back down--- via the tobaggon... Not easy as we had the camera equipment with us, but still risked our lives. Well, I managed to go too fast and crashed into the person in front, but then I blamed the staff---- they kept on telling me to go faster (or was that slower?).
We started heading back to Beijing at 11am, but 10 minutes into the journey smoke started bellowing out of the air-con. The belt of the alternator had snapped! Mr Qin took it out and then continued to drive, but within a few minutes we had to stop again because the water was now boiling. A new belt didn't help as it snapped also! Fortunately we managed to struggle to a small village--- the small garage there was shut and no one else could help. In the end Mr Qin had to hitch-hike to Huairou (the nearest town) to get a new alternator, while we were waiting in the car enjoying this unexpected stop. He returned an hour later with a new alternator, and a new belt. Apparently it was his first time to replace the alternator, but how he managed to figure out what to do without a manual I didn't know....
Maybe he didn't put the belt back on properly, and so a few minutes back onto the road the car had to be stopped again because the new belt snapped also. So we ended up driving to Huairou while the water was slowly approaching boiling point. Fortunately we just managed to get to the garage. Well, the mechanic at the garage only spent 10 minutes fixing the problem, instead of the 30 minutes that Mr Qin took.
The rest of the journey back into Beijing was not very eventful. Mr Qin felt quilty about the car breakdown delaying our journey, but I assured him that we were not in a hurry anyway (we actually quite enjoyed sitting by the roadside watching the world going past us). He was quite upset because the new alternator cost him RMB850, and unfortunately he had to cough it up since the cab company would not pay for it.
The next stop was Prince Gong's Residence in Beijing----a few interesting buildings and a lot of rockeries. However, too many guided tourist groups, presumably all from the Hutong tours, spoilt the whole place. Fighting the way round this place was hard work!
By the time we left it was 4pm, closing time for the quandrangles in the Hutong and also Soong Ching Ling Museum. So only managed a few pictures at the entrance.
Originally planned to go to Donglaishun for a Mongolian hotpot, but there was a long queue outside the restaurant (not surprised as the food smelt really nice). So ended up in Shaoshan Mao Restaurant near the night market. Not a great place but then it's the cuisine from where Chairman Mao came... Again stuffed ourselves silly and only cost RMB50 per person!
Walked past the fried scorpion stall again but didn't buy a skewer to try it out.... Not when I just had a full dinner.... And in any case, how was I supposed to eat it when the sting was still intact?! Then walked down Wangfujang Dajie and to the front of the Oriental Plaza on Chang'An Jie. The whole clash of old and new architecture made Beijing a very interesting place now.
This was the final night in Beijing and I definitely didn't want to leave yet....
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