Hiking photos – Auspicious Village to Huanghuacheng Great Wall, 2011/12/10

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Our Auspicious Village is a nice long walk through the countryside, taking us through small villages and empty fields, following country lanes and hill trails.

It’s a good way to get a look at the lifestyle of the people in the rural areas of Beijing. In winter, not a lot goes on for rural residents – from the photos you can see that we saw quite a few animals about, but no people. They will have all been inside, staying warm!

A baby donkey, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

A baby donkey in one of the villages.

a mule, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

Another donkey … or is it a mule?

a lot of donkeys in the villages, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

It’s common to see a lot of donkeys in the villages. They’re used to help with the fieldwork – pulling ploughs and trailers, carrying loads of firewood – and they’re sometimes used as a form of transport.

a lot of small dogs, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

We see a lot of small dogs in the villages, and guess that they are there for companionship and as a cheap burglar alarm.

A load of corn stalks, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

A load of corn stalks that will be used to heat houses over winter.

Corn still standing, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

Corn stalks still standing in the fields.

country roads, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

We followed country roads through the fields.

a clear day, but cold, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

We followed this path up to the last of the fields in this valley, heading for a pass on the ridge.

An old bike, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

An old bike in the fields, another common method of transport in the countryside.

These berries are jujubes, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

These berries are called jujubes, or, in Chinese, wild sour dates. Quite tasty, but sour indeed.

the Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

We were walking towards the Huanghuacheng Great Wall, seen in this photo on the ridgeline.

chestnut orchards, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

The trail led us through chestnut orchards.

this field, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

In summer, this field is green and lush; now, in winter, it’s bare, and you can see how dry the Beijing winter is.

This old dog, Beijing Hikers Gubeikou GreatWall Loop Midweek, November02, 2011

This old dog was out for a wander.

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