Great Wall of China

[Nevertoolate]

We will be going April, 2007. Is there an elevator to take you up to the top? I read somewhere that there was. Broke my ankle and am hoping will be able to do the climb, but would like to know beforehand if there is.

Am out of the cast and into a boot, doing the exercises but the muscles seem to have deteriorated.

Also, once up on the wall, is it very slippery (when raining). I know we have to have good walking shoes, so would appreciate any recommendations re. brand, style, etc.

Thank you.

Rosemary

P.S. I thought I had sent this in, but apparently something did not click - so this could turn out to be a second request.

[Spikesgirl]

We went on the Pacific Princess July of last year and I was concerned because I had extensive spinal fusion in April and my walking skills were slow but steady. I had no trouble walking the Great Wall. We also had a gentleman who had had about every bone in his body repaired, fused, removed, and he made it, as did another lady with severe scoliosis (sp?) and had to manuever with crutches. We all made sure she got up the stairs. It really depends upon how determined you are.

 

The bus drops you off just before this section of the Wall at the shops (oh, what a surprise, but to check them out because they offered some great items) and then you walk at a gradual incline up about 500 feet to the base of the wall.

 

There is a staircase. At the top, you have the option of going right (a much more gradual slope and turning left, which is much steeper, but with fewer people. My DH chose that one and with the help of his arm, I managed just fine.

 

I did not see an elevator, but there are different spots on the wall to visit, so it is possible that one exisits. Don't let this stop you. I managed (granted not quickly) the Forbidden City, T Square and every other stop - just put your mind to it, do the proper exercises and know what your stopping point is.

 

Good luck and good healing!

 

Charlie

[Nevertoolate]

Wonderful. Thankyou for all that info. I am not worrying as much now because of you and that I shall be walking and exercising for at least 2 months before getting there. Should be ok by then.

Thanks again.

[novemberbravo1974]

Depends where you go but be aware some of the public access parts are quite steep ( mountain goat territory according to some folks who ive compared notes with )

 

I took my mum last year and our guide understood and altered the tour because she couldnt walk all that well and not handle steep areas. Whilst no area is perfect I think we got the best option. ( If you need my guides company let me know as they specialise in tours for those who dont walk to well and cant do regular tours )

 

You will enjoy it regardless!!

 

Novemberbravo1974

[Spikesgirl]

Rosemary - if you have any other questions, please let me know. We spent a month over there and had such a wonderful time. It was everything we'd hoped for and we will return. Our tour was with CITS (through Princess) and they really went out of their way to cater to us. Very high marks for Jackie, our guide.

 

Anyhow, if you want to e mail me for any reason, my address is :charliekirby@ comcast.net

 

Have an incredible cruise!

 

Charlie

[sundial]

On our Regent Seven Seas cruise last October we visited the Great Wall at the Badaling section. I did not notice an elevator, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one. We had several people in their seventies with our group. The husband of one couple we made friends with had recently had a pacemaker put in and the wife had undergone knee surgery earlier in the year. All of these people were able to make it up to the Great Wall and walk around some. Where we were you could go to the right for easier walking but more crowds or to the left for a much steeper walk but fewer crowds. We chose the left and it was very steep with limited hand rails.

[Spikesgirl]

Was going through my travel stuff today and found out Great Wall book (you can arrange to have a photo taken of you and it's placed into a lovely keepsake book. anyhow, our gate was Badaling Beijing.

 

Don't know if that's any more help, but there it is!

 

Charlie

[Nevertoolate]

For all the information. We will be on a land/river cruise, so am not sure just where at the wall we will start our climb. Anyway, am not worrying about it - I am sure everything will work out. Concentrating on these ankle exercises at present - have never sat in one place for so long in years. If it wasn't for books and the computer, I'd have gone bonkers weeks ago.

Anyway, SPIKESGIRL, we live in Brentwood (just down the road). Retired and live in Summerset (God's waiting room is the term). However, it is a nice place to live - just don't like the weather!!!

Rosemary

Again, thank you all for the information.

[Spikesgirl]

Rosemary - I know Brentwood well. I used to work with someone who lived there. Gotta say, I'm not keen on the weather myself these days. Our tropical plants took a really hard hit. Still, it's better than fog...

 

Better news - the weather should be just about perfect in April - not too hot and not too cold -

 

You will have a great time - we did a river/land tour with Princess and it was the best money we'd ever spent. Will you be going to Xi'an before heading out to Chongquin?

 

Charlie

[Nevertoolate]

We land in Beijing, so we tour the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, etc. Next day is the Great Wall. Day 5 at leisure in Beijing. Then, in the evening, we board a train to Xian (this will be interesting - I mean the train ride also) See the Terracotta army, etc. Next day we see the Big Wild goose Pagoda, then the city wall, then on to the airport to transfer to Chongqing and then onto the ship for the Yangtze cruise for 3 days or almost 3 days, then on to Shanghai for a full day there and the next day back home.

So, I am making up a list of questions that I shall e-mail to you within a week or so. So, stick around am not done with you yet!!! Ha.

Rosemary

[Spikesgirl]

Rosemary, ask away! Your trip looks like it will be very similar to the one we took, so perhaps I can help out a little. You can either post the questions here or directly to me via e mail (charliekirby@comcast.net). I usually check in about twice a day at either site, so it may take a little while for me to answer, but I'll get there.

 

Be prepared to have your breath taken away by the warriors. It had been a dream of my husband's to see them and he just stood there and cried he was so moved. Even now he gets choked up when he takes about them. I just wish I'd had time to do some sketches of them on site. Guess we'll just have to go back - darn that luck:D !

 

Charlie

[KeithAustin]

Too bad you are in Sganghai for only one day. It is one of my faborite cities in the world. So much to do and the shopping is beyond fabulous.

Stayed at the Westin Downtown and walked to the shopping areas. Had a private driver who showed us around and took us to the shopping areas and the best restaurants. Went to a restaurant that served the most awesome DimSum and between 4 of us, the cost was around $15 US or around 100RMB. We had 15 plates of shrimp, crab, dumplings,beef, pork, etc and it was around $1US per plate.

 

Went to buy some knock of Tommy Hilfigers and bought so much stuff, I had to buy 2 large Polo knock off rolling suitcases to bring it all back. The cost for the Polos were $20US each. I bought no less than 20 shirts of all kinds, 2 pairs of Nikes , a leather coat for a friend, a louis Vitton, a Coach for DW, Xmas ornaments, tons of other stuff and I think I spent around $200 total for everything including the suitcases.

 

I cant remeber the name of the market but be prepared to be swarmed the minute your car or taxi pulls up as they are very aggressive, There are lots of neet places to go and things to see and do in Shanghai. A stroll along the Pudong after dark is not to be missed. The Pearl Tower and all the buildings are lit up in all the neon that its like being in NY Times Square.

 

But, if possible try to take a few extra days in Shanghai and hire and English speaking guide or ask the hotel to provide an English speaking driver and you will be so happy you did.

 

Keith

[Nevertoolate]

Thanks for all the info. Would love to be able to stay an extra day or so, but there is no way. Anyhow, shall do my best to shop, shop, shop. By the time we get to Shanghai, we may possibly have seen enough architectural sights that we can just be happy to wander around on our own. Taxi's are very cheap, or so I read on these boards and as long as we have the places written down by someone at the hotel, we should be ok.

too bad you don't recall the name of the place you had the Dim Sum - if you have a flash of rememberance, just put it on the boards.

Thanks.

[KeithAustin]

I was there for 7 days and ate at different restaurants every day and dont remember a single bad one. I ate at a western style chinese buffet at a mall and sorry but I cant remember where, but it was close to the river. The place was absolutely packed and the food was good even though I didnt recognize half the things on the buffet. I do remember every time they would bring out the skewers of octopus, there was a mad rush to the serving line LOL. I never ate any, but it must have been good. One thing I do remember most was whenever I could have a beer, they would serve ice cold TsingTao Beer and it was excellent and cheap. Aournd $1 US per liter. Very good with spicy chinese food.

 

We also went to another upscale mall that had a Brazilian style grill and they would bring skewers of meat, all kinds, around the restaurant and you could have as much of whatever and the cost was around $5 per person.

 

Fortunately, I had friends living there that knew the city and they took me around to all these places. It was so nice to have a local who could show you around. Then went to Beijing for an 8 day tour with an English speaking guide and private driver. Stayed at Tianlun Dynasty (sp). Very nice 5 star Hotel with western style buffet breakfast every day. Wireless internet and close to everything. The whole Beijing trip with tips cost around $1000 US per person for 8 days and this was all food, admissions, guide, driver, and round trip air from Shanghai.

 

Highly recommended....

[greatam]

 

Went to buy some knock of Tommy Hilfigers and bought so much stuff, I had to buy 2 large Polo knock off rolling suitcases to bring it all back. The cost for the Polos were $20US each. I bought no less than 20 shirts of all kinds, 2 pairs of Nikes , a leather coat for a friend, a louis Vitton, a Coach for DW, Xmas ornaments, tons of other stuff and I think I spent around $200 total for everything including the suitcases.

 

 

Keith

 

You are darn lucky you got all this stuff through customs. Customs has really been cracking down on the knockoff stuff. As a fairly frequent business traveler to Asia, very often I watch Customs take pax stuff away.

 

A month ago, I was returning from South America. I arrived the same time as an Air China flight. One lady was in tears as Customs confiscated LV purses, Northface stuff and most everything she had purchased. She kept saying "I didn't know it was fake". I heard one of the Customs guys laugh and state to the lady "You KNOW that Louis Vuitton costs more than $20.00."

 

A word to the wise if you don't want your stuff confiscated-put it in your OWN suitcases-NOT a box or knockoff suitcases.

[Nevertoolate]

I know that wherever else we have traveled customs limits dollar-wise was usually somewhere around $400-600 dollars before they confiscated anything. So, the lady must have a humongous amount of loot for them to take the lot. Shall have to do some research then before I shop.

Makes one wonder just what happens to all that loot confiscated from individuals = maybe they divvy it up and sell it themselves.

[DD]

Knock-off's can be legally confiscated at any price. It's against US law to buy designer knock-offs. Confiscating them had nothing to do with being over the duty-free limit.

[cruisinlivin]

We will be going April, 2007. Is there an elevator to take you up to the top? I read somewhere that there was. Broke my ankle and am hoping will be able to do the climb, but would like to know beforehand if there is.

Am out of the cast and into a boot, doing the exercises but the muscles seem to have deteriorated.

Also, once up on the wall, is it very slippery (when raining). I know we have to have good walking shoes, so would appreciate any recommendations re. brand, style, etc.

Thank you.

Rosemary

P.S. I thought I had sent this in, but apparently something did not click - so this could turn out to be a second request.

 

Hi,

 

We went to the Mitianyu section of the wall. It is a little farther that some out of Beijing but less commercial. This section has a chairlift up & down or an alpine slide down which was a lot of fun. Some in our group had never done the slide, they were ready to do it again.

[cruisinlivin]

We land in Beijing, so we tour the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, etc. Next day is the Great Wall. Day 5 at leisure in Beijing. Then, in the evening, we board a train to Xian (this will be interesting - I mean the train ride also) See the Terracotta army, etc. Next day we see the Big Wild goose Pagoda, then the city wall, then on to the airport to transfer to Chongqing and then onto the ship for the Yangtze cruise for 3 days or almost 3 days, then on to Shanghai for a full day there and the next day back home.

So, I am making up a list of questions that I shall e-mail to you within a week or so. So, stick around am not done with you yet!!! Ha.

Rosemary

 

Hi,

 

We took the train to Xi'an and loved it. We toured on our own though, not with a group. We booked a sleeper berth and shared the cabin with another couple traveling from France. It was a great ride overnight. The berths are very nice, clean fresh linens, private tv in each and restrooms down the hall are Western.

 

If you have time in Xi'an go to the Tang Dynasty Dinner show. It is really beautiful and most enjoyable. We had the dim sum/dumpling dinner rather than the feast, it was delicious.

 

The Big Goose Pagoda has many stairs to the top, a beautiful view when you get there.

[Paparam]

I know that wherever else we have traveled customs limits dollar-wise was usually somewhere around $400-600 dollars before they confiscated anything. So, the lady must have a humongous amount of loot for them to take the lot. Shall have to do some research then before I shop.

Makes one wonder just what happens to all that loot confiscated from individuals = maybe they divvy it up and sell it themselves.

 

Actually it is illegal to bring in ANY knock offs - it is not a matter of exceeding your allowance. If you exceed your allowance you have to pay duty not have your stuff be confiscated. In Italy they have started arresting tourists who buy counterfeit stuff and they get fined huge amounts of money.

[cruisinlivin]

Actually it is illegal to bring in ANY knock offs - it is not a matter of exceeding your allowance. If you exceed your allowance you have to pay duty not have your stuff be confiscated. In Italy they have started arresting tourists who buy counterfeit stuff and they get fined huge amounts of money.

 

This is good to know..... we head to Italy in a couple of months. Not that I buy that much but you never know. :rolleyes: