The Qing Dynasty Hails You

China

Firstly, let it be said how efficient the Chinese are with their border crossing. Where Russians took four (4) hours for no apparent reason, taking away passports and detaining people in a baking hot train the Chinese have a system like at the airport. I don't know if they really verify every detail on your passport (including mother's maiden name for sure!) but here it's stamp, type, type, stamp, done. They even smile. Sometimes.
Then, the next morning you wake up to the magestic canyons and mountains of northern Shanxi Province. And, as promised in the guidebook, you get your first glance at China's greatest ever building project: The Great Wall. For many kilometers it snakes along in and out of view across the northern mountain range. Some villages seem like they've been built right into it. With mighty fortresses on both sides, whose turrets have outlasted the centuries while elsewhere entire kingdoms crumbled the Middle Kingdom welcomes me back. And I am thrilled to return.
中国欢迎你。