Day 14 2/10/2014

Got picked up at 8.30am by taxi arranged by hostel and drove 3 hours north to Great Wall of China.  Went to Jinshanling section of the wall which is one of the quieter and most dramatic parts - still seemed very busy to us!  Taxi driver dropped us off at the north gate and we planned to walk to the east gate and meet him there (original plan to walk to Simatai not possible due to renovation work on the wall).   Given we hadn't paid for the ride and he lent us a phone we were clearly worth more to him than him to us.  We laughed when he took a photo of us to ensure he found us at the end!  Skipped cable car and walked up to wall and then walked about 4km and down to meet taxi.  The day was warm and very sunny and we had a fantastic views in all directions: the wall snaking away either side of us north to the mountains through which was the Gobi desert from whence the Mongol horde decended and south over hills to the rich plains of China.  Whilst a lot of the wall is still being restored and the going under foot challenging we could only marvel at a truly amazing piece of engineering which cost millions of lives to build and utterly useless at keeping the invaders out.  Had a 2.5hr taxi journey back to Beijing through lots of suburbs with high rise tower blocks, which must have been built in the last 20 years, and also huge mansions enclosed by gated walls no doubt for Beijing's rich and the parties top echelon.  So much for communism being egalitarian.  That night we went to a Lonely Planet recommended restaurant (The Courtyard) but didn't like the look of the taster menu so left but not before ordering a bottle of Evian water which cost 92¥ (£9.20)!  Went back to the hutong near Beihai Park where we'd been on the first night and had an uninspiring meal at another terrace restaurant.  Simon thought it was OK but not to Diane's liking and hoping that Japanese food will be more enjoyable.  Back for last night at the hostel, a lovely oasis in the middle of Beijing.  Quite quirky but clean and comfortable and very helpful owner and housekeeper.  A great find and highly recommended.