Hin's 6th C.O.U.N.T. 1,000,000 steps (Sep 20th – Oct 18th, 2014)

 

7: The Spirit Highway@Qingdongling. 

 

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com>   Sat, Oct 4, 2014 at 5:29 AM

 

 

29/9 08:00-13:00 7.7km 13,636 steps, TA 470m

 

Shangguan - Daankou - Qingdongling

 

Worked out that we just walked a leisurely hike from the Shangguan reservoir area to Daankou and made it by 1pm. Great view of the huge reservoir from the wall. Drove to Qingdongling (Eastern Qing Dynasty tombs), had a bowl of noodles and managed to get a discounted (Golden citizen rate) for the mausoleums.

 

First stop Empress Cixi Dowager – the powerful and proclaimed Mother of modern China.

​

Next – Emperor Kangxi – the longest reign for 61 years (became Emperor at age 8).

​

And then Emperor Qianlong – the most talented and famous, who abdicated after 60 years, not wanting to surpass his grandfather, Kangxi, but actually became Supreme Emperor for another 3 years.

 

All in, 5 emperors (out of the 11) were buried here, together with 4 empresses, 5 princes and hundreds of concubines. The other 5 emperors were at the Western Qing Tombs, 1 decided not to be buried in either. Fathers are buried in the Eastern and sons, in the Western.

 

To ensure that the spirit highway is not blocked to the north (where the Manchu originated) and for good “fongshiu”, 7 km of the Great Wall were dismantled.

 

Stayed the night in a yet to open Dongling resort at little Shanghai in Tangshan.

 

 

30/9 07:15-17:00 18.1km 32,909 steps. TA 783m.

 

Xinlicun - Malanguan

 

We were so excited to view the Spirit Highway of Qingdongling from the Great Wall, that we started very early at the village of Xinlicun. Indeed, there were only traces of the dismantled Great Wall and the mountain range was covered in evergreen pines and firs. Had a wonderful view of the spirit highway. A very good day’s hike all the way to Malanguan. Stayed the night at Nianyu Chicun by the Shanguan reservoir.

​