Climbing Wall - Ambition Achieved

Early alarm call at 6:45 am. Zhong enjoys his streaky bacon for breakfast. Back to room in plenty of time before Liu arrives. Sort out cameras and film for visit to Great Wall. Car due 08:30... arrives 09:00, traffic holdups. £60 for day, more expensive than 1991. Car parked at entrance, showered by adjacent sprinkler. Driver rushes to wipe windows and moves car to dry spot for us to enter. Zhong has front seat; unsure about safety belt. City streets very busy but roads clear later for faster drive. Driver stops once to ask for directions. Journey about two hours. Site well away from tourists at Badaling. Barrage of offers by stallholders as we walk to ticket office. Liu and I take cablecar. Zhong wants to make his first climb on foot. Wall top quiet but helicopter with sightseers passes low overhead.Costumed man with sword wants money for photos, offer declined.

Walk to first tower on right to find shady spot. Young Chinese men sleeping on floor in best spots with polythene sheets on floor. Find spare window for snacks and camera use. Helicopters pass over frequently, one scatters balloons for sale on stall. Surprised by arrival of Zhong after 50 minutes; shirt very wet. Retrace steps, then continue to left tower. Sit on steps in shade. This section well bedecked with colored flags and banners. Buy single ticket for Zhong to go down by cablecar.