Following this initial rest, we got to work on a longer and steeper portion of the trail, leading all the way to Ding Du Ge. This segment of the hike was filled with heavier breathing and perspiration as we worked hard to make our way up and up, often pausing to catch our breaths and take in the surroundings of the hillside and the lovely view of the shrinking town nestled in the valley below. The group was staggered across a long distance of this path with everyone moving at their own pace as they made the ascension, except for most of the children who persistently stuck at the front to fearlessly lead us all. Finally, after lots of hard work, I arrived at the entrance to Ding Du Ge feeling satisfied and accomplished in my mornings' efforts, and felt all the more gleeful when I saw the breathtaking views from our vantage point there. As we were able to observe both sides of the mountain, I took in the great beauty of this special setting and squinted to see glimpses of downtown Beijing in the distance. The whole group joyfully gathered just outside of the gate to take a photograph together before moving on to see the inside of Ding Du Ge.