Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Track Contingent Visits Great Wall on First Full Day in China
June 14, 2007 | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
The Princeton track & field teams visited the Great Wall of China, the country's most renowned monument, as part of the group's first full day in China on a 13-day tour of the country that includes visits to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai.
After taking a group photo at the wall Thursday afternoon, most of the group got an extra workout by climbing a section of the wall. The 51 student-athletes on the trip, 28 on the men's side and 23 on the women's side, also had a track workout Thursday morning at Beijing University.
The Great Wall was originally built in the 5th century B.C. to keep out foreign invaders. Construction continued for centuries and now meanders from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert, a distance of more than 3,500 miles.
In the evening on Thursday, the 70-member Princeton contingent was treated to a specially prepared meal of Beijing Duck.
After another morning practice Friday at Beijing University, the Tigers will explore Beijing neighborhoods during the afternoon via rickshaw.
On Saturday, the teams will compete in a meet at Beijing University against athletes from both the host school and Xinghua University, both schools that provide a good number of graduate students to Princeton.
Princeton remains in Beijing until Monday, when the group flies to Xian for three days before heading to Shanghai June 20 for the final four days of the trip and a second meet with top track athletes from the Shanghai area June 23.