CHINA SOJOURN: BEGUILING BEIJING
Beijing, originally Peking, is one of the world's most famous cities, with ancient landmarks, contemporary buildings, bustling avenues, and enormous cultural artifacts culminating in its historical renaissance. It is China's second-biggest city, and it was at the top of my bucket list. I visited Wuhan, Chengdu, and Beijing during my three-week stay in China. But Beijing was the pinnacle of my trip to China. I happened to be there for a week after feeling driven to discover what lay beyond the mountains to Nepal's north. Getting to Beijing from Wuhan, in a 12-hour train ride, I finally arrived in Beijing. I was ecstatic at the prospect of visiting one of the world's seven wonders, "The Great Wall." The northern frontiers of China flaunt these lengthy and massive walls that were once built to divide the Mongolian boundaries. This 13,000-mile-long wall is an emblem of Chinese culture. As it was my first overseas trip, I bec...