The Great Wall was just that. Breathtaking in its vastness. It was a cool and hazy day, difficult to see anything but the outline of the serpentine form as it trailed along the mountains, but awe-inspiring nonetheless. Even with the circus of vendors and tourists, there was an ancient stillness to the place, especially amongst the maze of temples at the base. In fairness, there were few tourists there--they had silently agreed to ascend the steep climb (with 1 1/2 foot stairs at a sharp angle upwards) at once, leaving the lowly temples virtually untouched. I could have stayed there for hours. The chaos lifted, just for a moment, and I entered timelessness. It was incredible. Sure,the wall rose above me, offering the power that height affords. But if I'd had the time, I would have chosen the deserted, ancient halls, one after the other, each honoring a different deity, hugging the ground in absolute humility.