Eric's Beijing Diary

Cold winter wind today, but it is very sunny, and not too cold otherwise. The best thing about it is that they have turned on the hot water. They should turn it on the middle of October, but there are usually a number of really warm days in late October, so they don't feel it is needed. So it is scheduled to come on by the 15th of November. But days like today sometimes move them to turn it on a few days early.

Yesterday I went to the Great Wall at Badaling. I have been there more than the other Great Wall locations, because it is simpler to get to. But it is also more touristed. I met a couple Iranian kids who wanted their picture taken with me. They were there with their parents...I guess their Father is teaching here for a year, or something.

The government has recently passed laws to protect the Great wall. There has been some public complaint, because groups of young people (There is a sizeable international youth culture in Beijing.) like to go to the Wall and have parties, and then they leave the place in a mess. Places like Badaling are largely rebuilt; it's hard to tell what is original. Still, it is a pretty impressive structure.