Beijing (pt 1). Great Wall of China.

Going from Kuala Lumpur to San Fransisco, I had a nice 10 hour layover in Beijing. I figured with that amount of time during daylight hours I could manage to get a transit visa, exit the airport and get to Mutianyu, part of the Great Wall of China. I’d check it out and come back with enough time to catch my connecting flight home.

Well, as soon as I arrived to Beijing and crossed immigration with my transit visa, the information ladies told me that I don’t have nearly enough time. “24 hours minimum and maybe you could see the Great Wall,” they said. Stubborn and determined, I hung around and debated my options. Until 3 Argentina girls walked up and and inquired about transportation to the Wall. They had a 17 hour layover, and had intended on the same Great Wall quick visit plan. A Chinese man walked up and offered private transportation to the Wall and back and committed to a round trip, in under 3 hours. We quickly teamed up and agreed.

…then the first challenge struck. None of the ATM machines in the airport would accept my debit card because it wasn’t from a Chinese bank. I didn’t know the pin number for my credit card, and all of my cash had be stolen in Bangkok. As a last resort, I exchanged the last of my Filipino pesos and gathered around 50 yuan. It was nearly enough to cover the entrance free for the Wall and the Argentina girls let me ride along with them and covered the rest of my fee. So kind!!

Here’s some images of the Great Wall. It was pretty surreal, and I was super exhausted after an overnight bus and red-eye flight two nights in a row.

So we managed to get to the wall, walk up it (surprise hike!), walk it a few pillars, and got back to the car and to the airport all in under 3 hours. With 4 hours until my flight, I’ve never left an airport and returned with this comfortable of a time cushion. It felt foreign to casually walk through the terminal and let go of the brisk stride.

Anyways, my card didn’t work at any of the stores or restaurants outside of the airport either, so I didn’t eat or drink anything until finally I got through airport security and I found a restaurant that would take my card. I sat with my laptop and ate my weight in grilled aubergine.

I can’t believe I pulled off seeing the Great Wall in such a short time frame, but at the same time I’m not surprised and I’m so glad it happened.