Marco Polo Bridge

Marco Polo Bridge is a semi famous site here. You usually have to be here for close to a month before you look into visiting it. Doesn't really compete with the big stuff for short term tourists.
These are sculptures around the bridge showing you what it might have been like in the time of Marco Polo and before when travelers would have crossed.
No doubt all kinds of people have been on this bridge since it has been around since the 1100's.
The bridge is referred to as Marco Polo bridge because he crossed here and mentioned the bridge in his journal calling it a very fine bridge and one the city should be proud of!

These guys are working on laying out tile in the entry way. You can see further below not much has changed in how construction gets done in some ways.
The bridge its self is lined with stone carved lions from different centuries.
Lions are a very popular theme in Asia.
No two lions are a like.

The bridge has been restored in certain parts through the years.
Although the stones in the middle are the originals.
My feet standing where Marco Polo once was!
Looking down the bridge.

Lions go the whole way down on both sides.
Me on the bridge.
Me with a lion.

I love all the lions in a row.
Even the bars to keep you away from the edge had lions on them.
Smiley lion.
Lion family.
It wasn't too crowded that day.
There was some water in what is usually a dry river bed.

Me and the bridge again. The building at the end of the bridge marks the gate to an old town.

The bridge still has travelers who cross on bike to get into town.

You can see parts of the city in the background that have grown up around this place.
Cannons in front of the old town gate.
Sculptures portraying how the bridge was made.

This is going through the gate. This place is famous for being one of the sights where the Japanese invaded and a battle was fought in the 1930's.
Some alleys ways in side the walled in community.
People are still living in this walled in town.

More of the traditional style housing.
These are blackboards which are still used as a way to communicate news throughout a community.

Great Wall on a Clear Day

So I know I have posted a lot of pictures of the Wall... But I finally had a day that actually warranted photos and made me realize how magnificent the Great Wall really can be.
This time I even climbed it! No wussy gondola ride.
You could actually see multiple mountain ranges.
It was so nice to be able to see past the closest tower.

It is hard to tell in the pictures but you could see the towers along the far off ridges and trace the yellowish line of the wall among the trees.
This gives a better idea of the wall snaking along.
Making my way down a slope inside a tower along the wall.
Not only was it clear and relatively cool but there was no one else there!
The length of the wall is what makes it impressive.

Being able to see how vastly is stretches along through the trees.
There really are mountains here- just no snow.

This is who I was with and who took these photos. I didn't believe there was going to really be sun so I didn't bring my camera!
The best part was getting our picture made at the bottom with these warriors in costume.

Some of us didn't fare so well in battle.
I think he is a little to happy about stabbing the foreigner.
I was fierce!
Let's not forget that this day of fun all took place and the Greay Wall!