Beijing

In Beijing, Ying made arrangements for us to stay at the Crown Plaza hotel not far from the Imperial Palace, shops and activities.  The following video is the Gray Line tour we took to visit  the third Ming Emperor's burial site and to hike the Great Wall of China with a cast of thousands.  Javier and I made it to the fifth station and top.  It took me an hour to climb the steep stairs and much less time for Javier.  Few foreigners were encountered along the way (double click to enlarge video).  Following the Gray Line Tour to the Ming Burial Site and the Great Wall, our group took a tour and had lunch at a jade factory showroom, then a tea demonstration and drive by the 2008 Olympic Village.  There are several pictures of the swim stadium where Michael reached new Olympic Heights with the Birdnest Stadium next door where the opening and closing ceremonies were held:

Beijing at Night and the Imperial Palace video: