After seeing all the compulsory sights in Beijing (including Temple of Heaven, Forbiiden City and eating Beijing roasted duck) we decided to follow Maos opinion that a man who hasn't climbed the Great Wall is not a real man, and booked a trip to a beautiful sight at the wall. It sounded to be great value: good price and a ten hour trip to the wall. There was only one condition, we should visit one shop for 40 min. However, it turned out that we went to several different tourist shops and every time the tourguide made us lie that we are not students because they get paid for bringing customers there and students are not willing to buy anyway. In each shop we had to spend at least 40 min and even the promises lunch was in a jade carving factory. We had booked the trip to a pretty nice scenery at the wall but all of the sudden the travel guide got information that there was an "accident" on the road that lead to that place. Instead, he made us sign a paper that we would go to another sigh, which surprisingly was a lot closer to Beijing that the intended one. We made him promise that we would not have to go to a single shop anymore and finally reached the wall. For the first time in my life I understood the movie Rocky when we finally survived the incredibly steep stairs leading to the top of the wall. However, we did not have too much time to enjoy the beautiful view because -oh, he forgot to tell- we still had a silk and a tea shop to visit!
As we started complaining the tour guide told us that we were the most horrible group he ever guided, not at all understanding that spending 1,5h from our 10h trip was not exactly what we wanted to pay for. The Great Wall was great and definitely worth seeing but avoid the tours and take a taxi instead to save your money, time and nerves instead.
After seeing all the compulsory sights in Beijing (including Temple of Heaven, Forbiiden City and eating Beijing roasted duck) we decided to follow Maos opinion that a man who hasn't climbed the Great Wall is not a real man, and booked a trip to a beautiful sight at the wall. It sounded to be great value: good price and a ten hour trip to the wall. There was only one condition, we should visit one shop for 40 min. However, it turned out that we went to several different tourist shops and every time the tourguide made us lie that we are not students because they get paid for bringing customers there and students are not willing to buy anyway. In each shop we had to spend at least 40 min and even the promises lunch was in a jade carving factory. We had booked the trip to a pretty nice scenery at the wall but all of the sudden the travel guide got information that there was an "accident" on the road that lead to that place. Instead, he made us sign a paper that we would go to another sigh, which surprisingly was a lot closer to Beijing that the intended one. We made him promise that we would not have to go to a single shop anymore and finally reached the wall. For the first time in my life I understood the movie Rocky when we finally survived the incredibly steep stairs leading to the top of the wall. However, we did not have too much time to enjoy the beautiful view because -oh, he forgot to tell- we still had a silk and a tea shop to visit! 
As we started complaining the tour guide told us that we were the most horrible group he ever guided, not at all understanding that spending 1,5h from our 10h trip was not exactly what we wanted to pay for. The Great Wall was great and definitely worth seeing but avoid the tours and take a taxi instead to save your money, time and nerves instead.
1 comment:
Keep up the good work.
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