The Great Wall

Upon our arrival to Beijing, we had hired a driver to pick us up at the train station and drive us to the Great Wall. We went to a section called Mutianyu that is about a 45 minute drive from downtown Beijing. While pictures do show its beauty, I cannot fully sum up how awe-inspiring the wall is. I think that I will let our pictures speak for themselves.....

Riding the chair lift up to the wall. This was not built with wiggly Tori's in mind! I was holding on to her as she kept asking, "Mommy, what's that? What's that?" (And with each "that" trying to lean over and point to what she saw. Be still my heart.)

Becca and Josh looking out from one of the "forts" (as they called them)

Once you are at the top, you climb around the wall (along lots of steps). This portion of the wall has the option of taking a "speed chute" down. This was easily the kids favorite part of the Great Wall experience. In fact, we got to the bottom and Tori and Josh asked if they could do it again. :-)

Andy took this as he and Josh sped along. He was asked by one of the workers to slow down! Josh kept telling Andy, "Faster! Faster!" Those two speed racers!