A Summer in Harbin: Post the Fifthteenth: The Wall and the Great Wall (Dandong 5 of 5)

Continued from Part IV...

The fence on the PRC-DPRK border.

Part V: The Great Wall

On Saturday morning, we woke up early to go to the eastern terminus of the Great Wall at Tiger Mountain. After buying water at the foot of the mountain (the price increases exponentially as you climb the wall), we set off under an overcast sky. The climb itself didn't take that long and we soon found ourselves panting on the highest observation tower on Tiger Mountain. After taking in our fill of scenery (the weather didn't really permit much to be seen), we climbed down on a different path to get a closer look at the Yalu River and North Korea.

The Wall. Apparently it was restored recently, which is funny because there are still gaping holes in the stairs.

Looking down at the foot of the mountain, the entrance to the Wall, and the parking lot.

And I used to complain about the stairs in the Chemistry Building. I also like that they left a giant non-movable rock in the middle of the stairs and decided to call it a dragon rather than admit that sorry, this was too heavy to move and we ran out of dynamite.

View of the Wall and Tiger Mountain from the other side.

Whatever you do, don't fall.

On our hike down the wall, we were captivated by the view of the DPRK. The expanse of land was uninterrupted except for one field and a group of "houses", which were really more just huts. Of course, there was not a soul to be seen. Adding to the creepiness was the presence of music on the other side in the village. Was it for them, or for us?

A North Korean field. The Yalu River is at the bottom.

More fields.

Fields.

A sentry outpost hut in the DPRK. There was a man inside who was watching all the people climb down the wall.

All of sudden, the six of us found ourselves at a break in the fence between the DPRK and the PRC marked by a sign warning of the border and requesting that we not wave, call to, exchange gifts with, or communicate at all with anyone on the other side. It was both exciting and sort of lame. Here we were, five Americans, on the North Korean border. At any moment a group of rifle-slinging soldiers could pop up and demand we move away or risk being shot. Then again, it was just a piece of land that looked exactly the same as the land on which we were standing on our side of the river. In the end, we took a bunch of photos and listened to the eerie music play from the village before hiking on to the entrance of the Wall.

The barbed wire is pretty welcoming, isn't it?

The village on the other side. Like I said before, not a soul to be seen.

More of the village.

Do these houses have air conditioning? Running water? Television providing state-sponsored programs?

The gap in the fence.

All in all, I'm very pleased that I got to get out of Harbin for a bit and explore a different city. The experience was quite eye-opening and the difference between bustling China and almost deserted North Korea could not have been sharper. It almost makes Harbin feel like a first-class city. Then again, any city that cannot offer me a burrito is unworthy of that title. Find me a Chipotle and then we'll talk.