Day 6 - Beijing and The Ming Tombs

Day 6 saw us driving outside the center city into a countryside that favored Northern California. The Ming Tombs is the resting place for 13 of the 16 Ming Emperors. There is a 4-mile approach to the tombs, part of which is 'guarded' by stone statues. It is quiet and peaceful, with views of the mountains in the distance, and the grounds surrounded by groves of fruit trees. When we parked to enter the tombs area, we were swarmed by local farmers selling gorgous fresh peaches bigger than my fist. I bought one and ate it straightaway as we made our way across the parking lot. With such luscious fruit, it made me wonder how they prepare and preserve it. I was longing for a peach pie, but our guide said they generally just dried the fruit instead of preparing it into dishes. Too bad.