Day 12 – Huiyuan Juice Company and the Great Wall (Mutianyu site)

10/12/2009:

Today started off with a 5 mile run around the N of the Forbidden City and up to the top of the Temple N of the City gates. I carried my camera on this run so that a picture could be taken overlooking the Forbidden City (see below.) After breakfast we went over to the Huiyuan Juice Company and toured their facility, followed by a presentation. They have quite an impressive operation and were able to share many examples of how they have expanded operations and capabilities in concert and response with China’s economic expansion. They also have recent business developments with Coca Cola and Dannon that might be interesting to follow up on. In short, their potential for future growth is staggering and many international companies with an interest in the Chinese market are courting this company. We also had a quick lunch here before heading out for our afternoon activities.

Leaving Huiyuan we drove N for about an hour and change to the Mutianyu site of the Great Wall. This was an incredible afternoon. We walked up to a ski lift and were carried up to a final elevation of about 3,800 ft and spent the afternoon walking the Wall (I opted for another run though. When am I going to get another chance to run on the Great Wall at nearly 4,000 ft elevation?) The pictures speak for themselves, however a few things worth noting. You can get souvenir hats and shirts for 3 for one USD. They sell drinks up on the Wall but bring something from below because they will try to drill you for the highest price possible up top. Walk the wall. The views are worth it. Take the sled ride down, and try not to use the brakes. If you really want to go fast, let the person in front of you have adequate time to get ahead. You will not regret it.

Our ride back to the hotel allowed most to sleep and we all went out for dinners of our choice. Some of us started off with scorpions on a stick…Later we walked by the Catholic Church again and had the chance to take pictures of people writing prayers in Chinese in water all over the steps of the Church. They believed that as the prayers evaporated they would be carried up to heaven.