Rediscovering the Great Wall: Glass Blowing

In the August cover feature of the Beijinger, we went back to the Great Wall and explored it anew: alongside, underneath, overhead... Here are some of the activities we thought you'd enjoy most.

Glass Blowing

At the Great Wall? That’s right, resident glass blowers from the Schoolhouse at Mutianyu give regular demonstrations of this artisan craft. Visitors can watch, free of charge, as sand and other ingredients are melted in a furnace. A blow pipe is used to fill the molten glass with air, creating bubbles that are dyed and eventually shaped into fine works of art. This is Beijing’s first and only hot glass shop open to the public. Private demonstrations can be booked and custom pieces made for a fee. Call 6162-6287 for more details.

The Schoolhouse at Mutinayu is a village primary school that was renovated into a restaurant eight years ago by Jim Spear and Liang Tang, hoping to create an eco-friendly business. Other activities and venues include slow food days, sustainable agriculture, bike rides, hikes, a spa, the Brickhouse eco-resort and an art gallery.

A version of this article appeared in the August 2013 edition of the Beijinger.

Photo: Mitchell Pe Masilun