Construction of the wall's 25-foot high and 12-foot wide walls was begun during the 3rd century and mostly completed by 1644 during the Ming Dynasty. Just like some of the Olympic events I've been watching, the wall is a powerful statement.



As we walk in the wall's gigantic shadow, I (Doug Stoup) speculated on whether this colossal structure was more than just an emperor's ego trip, and indeed, no amount of reading or perusal could have prepared me for the sheer presence of its structure. It's so "there" that it wraps space around itself. Even the wall's shadow has weight and volume. It is an immense, brooding presence, yet curiously uplifting, as if within its hulking structure there glows a torch burning with human endurance and fortitude.

I walked a mile and a half along a beautiful section under surprisingly, non-smogged, blue skies. Other sections supposedly have Starbucks and other tourist "attractions," but not this section. In fact, I ate at an organic restaurant called The SchoolHouse, which is owned by a Chinese fellow who supposedly had a vision that led him to opening his restaurant alongside a part of the Great Wall. Pretty cool stuff, especially after sampling his food, which was visionary as well as very healthy and full of flavor.

As China becomes more and more westernized, it picks up some of the West's habits. The country has a child obesity problem that rivals only America. Western food chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds appear locally, and although I've been sponsored and treated in king-like fashion by the Coca-Cola Company, it too, has conquered the Chinese people's tastes. The Western influence is everywhere: You do see Chinese men wearing Mao jackets, but also everything from Gucci to matching basketball sweats. By viewing the countless shops and businesses, it is easy to understand how the people here have become a consumer society. There is no doubt in my mind that China's economic journey will greatly influence our lives into the distant future.



My favorite Olympic event of the day was watching the men's shot put. The heavily favored U.S. Men came up short (only Chris Cantwell medaled). Instead it was an amazing 6-foot 8-inch Polish shot-putter who muscled a throw of over 70 feet to win the gold. Another Eastern Euro from Belarus earned the Bronze. I was also able to take in the women's Heptathalon and steeplechase as well as watch Usain Bolt from Jamaica win the 100-meter sprint.

Beijing's National Stadium, a.k.a. the Birds Nest, is an amazing and huge stadium, yet full of gaffs. A good example is that it has just one men's rest room door to go in and out, for each rest room. For those who don't attend big stadium events, maybe this complaint sounds silly, but it is a huge bottleneck trying to squeeze both in and out people through one door instead of having separate enter and exit doors.

Another criticism is the stadium food here. It makes ski resort food seem like gourmet fare. But these criticisms are beside the point. Lit up at night, the Birds Nest and the other event sites in the Wangfujing area of the Olympic center makes one feel as if he or she has entered a vast cathedral of sparkling raiment. The energy is so strong it's hard to comprehend it all.

As I return to my room after another exhausting but exhilarating day, I can't help but smile when hearing Chinese folks in the lobby chant "Zhongguo jiayou!" which, translated, means Go China!       --Story via Robert Frohlich.