Serious fun at the Spirit Way...and a serious note...

An adventure out of the city becomes a much needed day of silliness and fun at the Spirit Way of the Ming Tombs.  The day was a beautiful, blue one threaded with the arctic wind.  Our travels to the tombs proved to be rejuvenating and boundlessly refreshing for some mountain loving girls trapped in the big city.  As you imagine, China has a lot of old stuff to look at and seeing as my time here is limited (to the tune of twelve days!) my friends, my eyes and me are fully booked with sights to jump on.

Beijing sprawls on forever so it takes us a while to get out of the city (2 hours and 56 km) but the tombs are out enough to breathe some fresh air (yay!).  The trip is a thirty minute winter walk and two buses to terminus but well worth it to jump on an ancient site. Construction of the Spirit Way began in 1420 ish and was the next big undertaking after construction of the Forbidden City .  The Way is a seven km road guarded by animals and warriors meant to deflect evil that may come to disturb the Ming emperors buried in the tombs.  The statues are formidable yet gracefully gorgeous, and wonderfully detailed.  The Chinese are exceptionally aware of detail in their ornamental design especially when it comes to protection in the after life.

Lions, camels and Samurai, oh, my!  

 Devery and a extravagant terrace decoration comparing teeth for who is mightier: I think Dev puts up some good competition.

In addition to the Spirit Way, Dev and I went to the Underground Palace.  This Palace was excavated after the Cultural Revolution and thus remains mostly intact.  We descended five full flights of stairs to the cold underground tomb.  Three gigantic rooms constructed for the afterlife of one Ming emperor and his two wives boasts  vaulted ceilings, concrete thrones and beautiful dry fountains.  The palace, hidden under webs of beautiful gardens and forested pathways remained hidden for almost five centuries.  Cool.  The whole scene  is beautiful.  

Stay tuned for more upcoming adventures!