Jennifer Hermoso has not been named in Spain’s 23-woman squad to face Sweden and Switzerland in its upcoming matches, but 20 players who signed a letter refusing to play the two fixtures have been included.

Last week, the majority of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad refused to be called up for the Women’s Nations League matches as players continue to push for “real structural changes” in Spanish soccer, following the fallout from ex-soccer boss Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on La Roja star Hermoso.

Spain was due to announce a squad for its next two matches on Friday but postponed the decision after 39 players, including 21 of the 23-woman World Cup squad, signed a joint letter condemning the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

However, Montse Tomé – who replaced controversial coach Jorge Vilda after the tournament – named 20 players who had signed the letter in her latest squad, which was announced on Monday.

“I think what we’re all clear on is that we lived a special situation and everything that’s happened these days, well, has been exceptional,” Tomé said when asked by reporters what had happened between Friday and now for her to include those 20 players who had signed the joint letter.

“The federation has worked to be able to talk to the players. I’ve also worked with them. We’ve listened to them, we thought that we all were a part of this group, and the way is having good communication.”

‘A new era’

When asked to explain Hermoso’s absence, Tomé said she wanted to protect the star but left open the possibility of her returning to the squad in the future.

“First of all, I want to say that we’re with Jenni in everything and with all the players,” added Tomé, who was reticent to talk in detail about conversations she had had with players.

“We think that the way to help them is be close to them and listen to them. As the person in charge, as well as my staff, we concluded that the best way to protect her in this call-up is this way.”

Spain is due to play Sweden and Switzerland on September 22 and 26 respectively.

Tomé said she was confident that all those named in the squad – including two players who didn’t feature at the World Cup, Mapi León and Patricia Guijarro, and were involved in a previous dispute with the federation – will be totally committed. Tomé said that the new squad is due to meet up on Tuesday.

“I think, on a professional level, we are surrounded by incredible group of players,” she said.

“You talk to me about these two players in particular who weren’t at the World Cup. But as I said, we’re starting a new era.”

In the aftermath of the La Roja’s World Cup victory, Tomé was seen briefly clapping alongside other RFEF members during a speech made by Rubiales when he initially announced he would not step down from his role.

“The truth is I didn’t feel good that day,” said Tomé when asked by a reporter why she applauded Rubiales’ defiant speech.

“If I think a bit and ask, ‘Why did I do it?’ well, maybe, I wouldn’t have done it again. But I feel that in that moment, with the big crowd, I clapped and that’s why it happened.”

How we got here

The dissatisfaction felt by Spanish players dates back over a year, when 15 members of the senior women’s squad sent personally signed letters to RFEF via email to announce they would no longer play for the national team unless there were wholesale changes made throughout the coaching staff.

Of the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle. That trio were included in Tomé’s squad that was announced on Monday.

Despite those off-field struggles, a young Spanish side produced a magical World Cup run to defy the odds and clinch a memorable title in Australia and New Zealand.

The achievement was subsequently overshadowed by Rubiales’ actions during the medal ceremony.

However, now that Vilda and Rubiales have left their positions, RFEF hopes to kick-start a new chapter in women’s soccer.

Earlier on Monday, it released a statement underlining its commitment to enforce changes in the organization.

“Its absolutely necessary, to realize these changes, to clarify each of the behaviors and conducts which may have occurred and act, as such, with professionalism and justice, settling the relevant responsibilities in each case,” it said.

“It’s evident that the Federation, society and the very players are aligned with this same objective: the renewal and beginning of a new era where football is the great winner of all of this process.”

On Friday, Rubiales testified in Spain’s National Court after being summoned by the presiding judge to aid in the court’s investigation into potential charges of sexual assault and coercion against him.

The Spanish Prosecutor’s office said Rubiales answered questions from the judge and all parties and denied the charges.

Later on Friday, the judge gave Rubiales a restraining order, preventing him from going within 200 meters of Hermoso, and ordered him not to communicate with her during the court’s investigation.

“The whole world could see it was not consensual. That’s what we’ll show,” Hermoso’s lawyer Carla Vall said after leaving the National Court in the capital of Madrid.

The remnants of post-tropical cyclone Lee were moving out over the ocean and away from Atlantic Canada on Monday, after US officials announced at least two deaths due to the storm.

Lee, once a powerful hurricane, churned northward with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph on Sunday after making landfall Saturday on Long Island in Nova Scotia, the National Hurricane Center said in its final advisory about the storm.

The storm knocked out power to tens of thousands and lashed the coasts of the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada with strong winds and waves.

At least two deaths have been attributed to dangerous conditions associated with Lee.

Officials in Fernandina Beach, Florida, announced a 15-year-old had drowned in the surf “due to turbulent wave conditions as a result of Hurricane Lee.”

A 50-year-old Winterport, Maine, man died after a tree struck his vehicle during the storm Saturday, the Searsport Police Department said in a news release.

Gary Phillips was on West Main Street in Searsport when a large tree branch broke due to high winds in the area at the time and struck the roof of the vehicle, the release said. Searsport is located approximately 30 miles south of Bangor.

In Canada, about 50,000 customers were without power Sunday in Nova Scotia, while 8,000 in New Brunswick were in the dark, according to an outage maps by provincial utilities.

In Maine – where winds of 83 mph were recorded in Perry, and 63 mph in Roque Bluffs – more than 20,000 homes and businesses were without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Outages there peaked Saturday with more than 90,000 customers in the dark, and photos from across the state showed toppled trees near homes and on roadways as powerful winds battered the area.

Officials in New Brunswick cautioned residents to prepare for power outages and stock up on food and medication for at least 72 hours as they encouraged people to stay indoors during what they forecast would likely turn into a storm surge for coastal communities.

“Once the storm starts, remember please stay at home if at all possible,” Kyle Leavitt, director of New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, said Friday ahead of the storm. “Nothing good can come from checking out the big waves and how strong the wind truly is.”

In the US, states of emergency were declared ahead of the storm in Maine and Massachusetts. President Joe Biden authorized the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to step in to coordinate disaster relief and assistance for required emergency measures.

Boston’s Logan International Airport saw a spike in flight cancellations Saturday with 23% of all flights into Boston and 24% of flights originating out of the city canceled, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

A university observatory in Russia has been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The astronomical observatories of Kazan Federal University, located in the city of Kazan, were added to the esteemed list on Monday as UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee continued its deliberations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The site is made up of the Kazan Observatory, built in 1837 in the historical center of the city, and a complex that includes the suburban Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory and various historical buildings.

New additions

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains National Park, which stretches across an area of 830 square miles; the Maison Carrée of Nîmes, a well-preserved Roman temple in southern France; and Gordion, the capital city of ancient Phrygia in Turkey, were among the other new sites to be inscribed on Monday.

On Sunday, Gaya Tumuli, a cluster of burial mounds built by the Gaya Kingdom, became the 16th site in South Korea, while the Viking-Age Ring Fortresses in Denmark, which date back more than 1,000 years, also made the cut.

The committee began adding new sites onto the prestigious list on Saturday, with the Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua in Congo and the volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons on the French island of Martinique both chosen.

In order to be added to the list, which was established in 1978, a site must be deemed to be of “outstanding universal value,” according to UNESCO.

‘Outstanding universal value’

The committee is to review the remaining nominations, which includes Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, over the next few days.

Last week, two Ukraine sites — the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, both situated in the capital city of Kyiv, and the historical center of Lviv in western Ukraine — were added to the World Heritage in Danger List.

According to a statement issued by UNESCO, the decision was made “due to the threat of destruction the Russian offensive poses.”

“Faced with the risk of direct attack, these sites are also vulnerable to the shockwaves caused by the bombing of the two cities,” the statement continued.

The alligator that was rescued last week after being reported wandering in Central Florida with the top half of its jaw missing is now under the care of an Orlando alligator park, according to a news release.

The trapper who brought the alligator to Gatorland believed the animal “was possibly injured by a boat propeller and survived,” the statement added.

Gatorland did not provide new details on the alligator on Monday, but in a Facebook post on Saturday said that the staff at the park “will be watching over her closely for the next few days concentrating on getting her to eat in a stress-free environment so that she can enjoy her new forever home here in Alligator Paradise.”

Gator had ‘basically no chance of surviving’

Savannah Boan, crocodilian enrichment coordinator at Gatorland, said in a Facebook video posted on Saturday that the injury seemed old, and the animal would be placed into quarantine.

The alligator “had basically no chance of surviving in the wild with such a severe injury,” the park added.

The alligator was rescued Thursday evening in Florida after it was seen with its upper jaw cut off at Wilson’s Landing Park in Sanford in late August, and photos of it circulated across social media.

On Facebook, Gatorland is also asking for help in naming the alligator.

A bear that prompted partial closures at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on Monday was captured without incident and is being relocated, according to a news release from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own, but given this situation, staff have captured the animal and are relocating the bear out of the park to an area in or around the Ocala National Forest,” FWC said.

FWC added that the animal was an adult female.

Nearly a dozen attractions were closed on Monday at the time authorities were trying to locate the bear at Magic Kingdom, according to the My Disney Experience app.

In an earlier statement, Disney said, “We are working with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and have made the decision to reopen Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park.”

There are three other major parks at the resort: EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

Shawn Nottingham, Carlos Suarez, Melissa Alonso and Kate Conerly contributed to this report.

Armand Duplantis reached seventh heaven at the Diamond League Final on Sunday as he yet again broke the pole vault world record.

After he cleared six meters, 23 centimeters – the seventh time in his career that he has broken the world record – Duplantis leaped off the landing mat and celebrated by running over the stands, pumping his arms in the air.

It marked the second of two world records set at the season-ending meet in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay also broke the women’s 5,000-meter record with a time of 14 minutes, 0.21 seconds.

Sweden’s Duplantis needed just one attempt at 6.23m – a centimeter higher than his own record set in France earlier this year. His legs scraped the bar on the way over, causing it to wobble but stay in position.

The 23-year-old’s historic jump saw him finish way clear of the Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena, who managed 5.82m, in second.

“I’m usually pretty excited for those world records because they feel good. What else can you say really?” Duplantis, who also set a record at Hayward Field last year, told reporters. “It was a crazy way to end the year, I’ve never had an ending like this.”

He added: “By the end of my career, I hope to definitely have the bar up there that I think is the highest that I could have possibly achieved.”

Earlier in the day, Tsegay took almost five seconds off the women’s 5,000m record, which had previously been set by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon in June.

Tsegay, who was crowned 10,000m world champion earlier this year, raced clear of Beatrice Chebet in the closing stages.

With pain etched across her face and willed on by the crowd, she narrowly missed out on breaking the 14-minute barrier as she crossed the line and sank to the floor. Chebet finished second in 14:05.92 – the third-fastest time in history.

Tsegay’s effort means that the women’s 5000m record has now been lowered by nearly 11 seconds over the past three years.

A sweltering heat wave in Australia took its toll on runners in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, with 26 people taken to the hospital and about 40 treated for heat exhaustion by emergency services.

Large parts of Australia’s southeast, including Sydney, are experiencing a spring heat wave, the national weather bureau said, with temperatures Monday expected to peak at up to 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit) above the September average.

The rising heat wave has been building in the country’s outback interior over the weekend and is likely to last until Wednesday across the states of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it expected several early spring records to be broken over the next few days, calling the heat “very uncommon for September.”

“A reprieve from the heat is not expected until Wednesday onwards, as a stronger cold front crosses the southeastern states,” the weather bureau said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Temperatures in Sydney’s west are expected to hit 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 Fahrenheit) on Monday before dropping to about 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit) on Thursday, the weather bureau forecasts showed.

The heat wave has also elevated the risks of fires, with several regions given “high” fire danger ratings, and authorities urging residents to prepare for bushfires. About 50 grass or bushfires are burning across New South Wales but all have been brought under control.

Australia is bracing for a hotter southern hemisphere spring and summer this year after the possibility of an El Niño strengthened, and the weather forecaster said the weather event could likely develop between September and November.

El Niño can prompt extreme weather events from wildfires to cyclones and droughts in Australia, with authorities already warning of heightened bushfire risks this summer.

A thick smoke haze shrouded Sydney for several days last week as firefighters carried out hazard reduction burns to prepare for the looming bushfire season.

Australia’s hot spring follows a winter with temperatures well above average. Scientists warn that extreme weather events like heat waves are only going to become more common and more intense unless the world stops burning planet-heating fossil fuels.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett dedicated his crucial pick-six in a 27-17 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday to his late two-year-old daughter.

With 2:12 left on the clock and Tampa Bay holding a narrow 20-17 lead, Bears quarterback Justin Fields dropped back into the end zone to pass but was picked off by Barrett at their own four-yard line. Fighting through tackles and assisted by his teammates, he bundled the ball home to seal the game for the Bucs. It was the 30-year-old’s second career interception and his first ever touchdown.

Barrett’s daughter, Arrayah, tragically passed away in April this year after drowning in a swimming pool.

The nine-year NFL veteran spent the offseason dealing with grief, which was compounded by his battle to return to the field after tearing his Achilles tendon in October of last year.

Barrett blew a kiss to the sky after scoring and discussed the touching moment with the media after the game.

Wearing a heart-shaped necklace with his late daughter’s picture on it, he said: “I always play for my family already, but then having that extra incentive and making me want to go a little harder for her … at least, I’m able to shine a little spotlight on her a little bit.

“Camera was on me after I made the play, I told her, ‘I love you, miss you and wish you were here.’”

Barrett also spoke about struggles with his loss, explaining the rush of pain that he experienced before the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings and credited his faith and the support of others for helping him focus on his football.

“I was struggling real bad. I couldn’t stop crying,” he told reporters. “Called my wife, the coaches checked in on me. But then out of the blue, everything just went away and I was able to focus on the game.

“My wife says people pray for me, so I actually felt like the wave of emotions just slide to the side and I was able to actually able to focus. So I was able to feel the power of prayer.”

The linebacker believes that “divine intervention” aided him in that vital moment on Sunday afternoon.

“He’s setting us up for something that we need, and I’m just ready for it and I’m waiting for it, and I’m going to believe in Him and believe in this plan for sure. And I do feel like it was divine intervention to be able to just get that spotlight for my baby girl.”

Barrett, a Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos in 2015 and the Bucs in 2021, was showered with praise after the game by head coach Todd Bowles.

“It’s unbelievable. You can’t even fathom going through something like that,” the 59-year-old said. “To see him go through it and come out on the other side – and I’m sure he still has days – but to play like he’s playing right now, to be where he is right now is unbelievable.”

Fellow Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Nelson also detailed his admiration for Barrett.

“He’s a special dude. It’s amazing. He’s stayed strong in his faith. That’s one of the things I admire about him the most,” he said. “He’s a positive person, he believes in himself … and he’s a hard worker.”

Barrett’s family were in attendance as Tampa Bay improved to 2-0 and saw him pick up a sack and two tackles to go alongside his memorable pick-six.

“I couldn’t be denied,” said Barrett, going over his game-clinching touchdown. “My teammates came to rally behind me and help me get into the end zone. It was just a great way to end the game. The offense did it for us last time, and it was our time to return the favor.”

Barrett and Bucs now turn their attention to the 2-0 Philadelphia Eagles, who they face next week during Monday Night Football.

Having lived in Beijing for almost 12 years, I’ve had plenty of time to travel widely in China.

I’ve visited more than 100 cities, not to mention countless towns and villages throughout the mainland’s 31 provinces.

Looking back, I’ve come to realize it was my frequent visits to different parts of the Great Wall in Beijing that were a driving force behind my desire to explore the rest of the country and, along with it, the many sections of wall that lie outside the capital’s boundaries.

Work on the Great Wall began more than 2,500 years ago, its origins dating back to China’s Spring and Autumn Period of around 770 BCE to 476 BCE. Various sections were added in subsequent eras as competing dynasties and factions sought to exert their control.

Work eventually stopped in the 17th century.

Though not a single, unbroken structure, the wall spans over 21,000 kilometers, winding through 15 provinces, 97 prefectures and 404 counties.

And while certain sections have been incredibly popular among tourists, many parts have slipped into obscurity, disrepair and sometimes oblivion.

Whether you’re planning to visit the Great Wall for the first time or the 50th, the following destinations are sure to make your trip to China even more worthwhile. (Check out the above video for dramatic aerial footage of some of these amazing sites.)

Yongtai Turtle City

The Great Wall is not simply a brick and mortar bulwark; in certain places, towers on jagged mountain peaks, fortress towns or even wide rivers count as sections of “wall.”

The Turtle City, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as part of the Great Wall’s “Yellow River Defense Line,” was completed in 1608 and was home to around 2,000 infantrymen and 500 cavalry units during peak use.

Today, this fortress city is located in the Sitan Township of Jingtai County in north central Gansu province.

While there aren’t many real turtles in the “Turtle City,” the garrison town got its nickname due to its unique shape.

The south gate acts as the head and the west and east gates as the flippers. The town’s oval wall is the body, while the north gate acts as its tail. As one of the most well-preserved and truly authentic walled cities left in China today, it’s definitely worth your time.

Staying in the Jingtai County center is recommended. The ancient city is only a 30-minute cab ride from your lodgings, so you can visit whenever the light is best for photos.

When in Jingtai, try local specialties such as the five Buddha tofu and the Jingtai cold mixed noodles – both are spicy vegetarian dishes. A walk through the sprawling night market in Jingtai County People’s Square, which boasts more than 50 snack stalls, is also recommended for adventurous foodies.

Getting there: Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, has a major international airport and high-speed train connections from many cities in China. The drive to Yongtai Turtle City from downtown Lanzhou takes about 2.5 hours (195 kilometers). From Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, it’s only 1.5 hours (125 kilometers).

Mutianyu/Jiankou

Mutianyu and Jiankou are two parts of the same Stone Dragon – two contiguous sections of the Great Wall that together stretch for roughly 25 kilometers along Beijing’s mountaintops.

Historical records show that millions of men spent centuries constructing the Great Wall. Stand atop the wall at either Mutianyu or Jiankou, and you’ll begin to comprehend the gravity of this statement.

These two sections are arguably the two most classic examples of Ming Dynasty Great Wall surviving today, and climbing either is guaranteed to be a life-changing experience.

Mutianyu is the best portion of the “tourist wall.” Restored in the 1980s, it’s very commercial but also superbly beautiful. Visitors not up for the hike can take a cable car to the top.

To the west of Mutianyu, Jiankou is colloquially known as the “wild wall” – no ticket needed and not commercialized. That being said, as of 2020, hiking at Jiankou has become somewhat frowned upon by the local government because of safety concerns.

Mutianyu and Jiankou are less than a 90-minute drive (without traffic) from downtown Beijing, yet it’s highly recommended to enjoy a night in the countryside if time allows.

Jiankou can be accessed via Xizhazi village; if dates align, you might even be able to spend a few days with William Lindesay, world-renowned Great Wall historian, and his wonderful family at The Barracks, their wall-side courtyard home.

For lodgings around Mutianyu, The Brickyard is a superbly comfortable choice.

In fall and spring, shades of the wall’s gray brick contrast with nature’s vibrant colors. Peak autumn foliage and spring cherry blossoms provide stunning backdrops for photos.

For winter sports enthusiasts, there’s skiing and skating next to the Wall at locations not far from Mutianyu.

Getting to Mutianyu: Restrictions on applying for temporary driving licenses in China were relaxed in September 2019, so renting a car as a foreign tourist is entirely possible. (International driving licenses are not accepted in China.)

You can also hire a car with a driver for the day or take the Mutianyu Special Tourism Bus from the Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station.

Getting to Jiankou: Renting a car or booking private transport is recommended. As Xizhazi is a small village, buses are scarce so it can take up to five hours to get there by public transport, as opposed to 90 minutes by car.

Bataizi

Bataizi village sits just inside the Motianling section of the Great Wall and is home to the ruins of a Gothic church built in 1876 under the direction of a German missionary.

The church has been damaged and repaired numerous times in its nearly 150-year history; the bell tower is the only part still standing.

The juxtaposition of its ruins against the rammed-earth Great Wall makes Bataizi a unique place to spend a morning or afternoon.

After finishing your hike along the wall and visiting the church ruins, drop in to the village’s “new” church to say hello to Father Pan; if you speak Chinese, he can answer any questions about the village’s long connection with Catholicism.

Besides Bataizi, Datong should also be on your tourist map; visiting the Yungang Grottoes (a UNESCO world heritage site) and the Hengshan Hanging Temple will make your trip even more memorable.

Late summer is an ideal time to visit Bataizi, as you’ll see a wonderful contrast between the Great Wall and the lush green hills.

Getting there: Bataizi village is 80 kilometers west of Datong, one of Shanxi province’s largest and most famous cities. Zuoyun County is only 22 kilometers away from Bataizi – about a 35-minute drive.

Datong is easily accessible by plane or high-speed train from other cities in China; a taxi from downtown Datong to Bataizi should cost roughly 300 yuan (about $43).

Alternatively, you can make your way to Zuoyun County by bus then hop in a taxi.

In Datong, luxury seekers will want to head for the five-star Yunzhong Traditional Courtyard Hotel. Zuoyun County has one hotel that can accept foreigners: Zuoyun Jinshan International Hotel. Both can be found on popular hotel booking sites.

Laoniuwan (aka the Old Ox Bend Great Wall)

As the locals say, Laoniuwan is where the Great Wall and the mighty Yellow River shake hands.

The Laoniuwan Fortress was built in 1467, while the most famous tower of the Great Wall in this area, Wanghe Tower (literally meaning river-watching tower), was constructed in 1544.

Laoniuwan village is located in Pianguan County, part of Xinzhou city in Shanxi province, just across the river from Inner Mongolia.

Late summer or early fall is a great time to visit, as you’ll avoid the potentially dangerous mountain roads during spring rainstorms, or being uncomfortably cold in a place without great infrastructure.

Along the Great Wall, there are only a few places where it meets bodies of water; of all those, this is the most stunning.

A boat ride along the river is highly recommended. You’ll be able to soak in the natural beauty of the Yellow River Gorge while marveling at the steadfast resolve of these ancient architects.

Getting there: Laoniuwan is difficult to get to by public transportation. The best option is to rent or book a car to take you from Datong to Laoniuwan via Bataizi – this way, you’ll be able to see two incredible locations along the Great Wall in one trip.

Pianguan is the nearest city, about one hour away. Pianguan does not have a train station or an airport. The only option is to arrive by bus. Shuozhou, 140 kilometers from Laoniuwan, has an airport opening later this year.

Fairy Tower

Construction on the Great Wall in Simatai began in 1373. It was expanded and reinforced periodically throughout the Ming Dynasty.

The Fairy Tower is one of the best-known towers of the wall at Simatai but also one of the least visited due to how difficult it is to access.

Instead, aim to take in incredible views of the Fairy Tower from Wangjing Tower (just a few hundred meters away). It’s a journey that will satiate even the most adventurous hikers, yet can be done without any ropes, ladders or other essential safety gear.

As with a visit to Mutianyu/Jiankou, this section of wall is guaranteed to deliver stunning views any time of year. My only suggestion is to wait for a clear day (usually visibility is great the day after it rains or snows), as the view from Wangjing Tower is unobstructed in every direction.

The hike to the Fairy Tower will leave you in awe of the Northern Barbarians’ supposed determination to reach the capital; the mountains are nearly impassable on foot, let alone by horse, with sheer cliff faces on either side.

It makes for absolutely world-class hiking and an interesting history lesson.

Five-star lodgings are available at Hobo Farm; they also have an incredible restaurant that serves delicious Western and Chinese fare. For 4.5 star lodgings with a lower price tag, try Yatou’s Homestay. Both can be found on major hotel booking sites.

Getting there: Both the Fairy Tower and Wangjing Tower should be accessed via Tangjiazhai village, located in Beijing’s Miyun district.

Tangjiazhai village is 140 kilometers from downtown Beijing, depending on your route. Booking a private car from the city is probably the most time-effective way to get there.

You can also take a high-speed train from Beijing Station to Miyun district and switch to a bus or taxi from there.

Dushikou

Constructed during the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1507-1567), this single-wall section stands seven meters tall in some spots – no small feat considering it was made by piling stones.

It’s located just across the road from the town of Dushikou, in Chicheng in Hebei province.

The piled-stone wall at Dushikou is unique, as many other sections of the Great Wall close to Beijing were constructed using kiln-fired bricks.

Dushikou is best visited in the summer, specifically July and August, when the rolling hills of the surrounding grasslands are peak green. Cool evenings make for perfect outdoor barbecue/bonfire weather.

You’ll be able to find clean and comfortable farmhouse lodgings in Dushikou town; alternatively, Chicheng, 45 minutes away, has a range of hotels to choose from.

Lamb skewers and roast leg of lamb are specialties in these parts, as this part of Hebei is very close to the border with Inner Mongolia. Noodle lovers should also try the local oat noodles, which are delicious.

Getting there: Thanks to all the infrastructure built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, the drive to Dushikou has been shortened by almost two hours. If you prefer not to drive, hop on a bus to Chicheng from the Liuliqiao Transport Hub in Beijing and take a 45-minute taxi ride to Dushikou.

Note that public transportation will take one or two hours longer than private car.

If Week 1 is the week of overreaction, Week 2 is when we begin to see patterns emerging.

Whether it be impressive performances, breakout stars or disappointing signs, the second weekend of action is when the NFL starts to take shape.

Week 2 had it all, so let’s have a look at Sunday’s action across the league.

Chiefs back to winning ways

As is tradition, the reigning Super Bowl champions played in the season-opening game in Week 1. To start the 2023 season, this meant the Kansas City Chiefs were able to celebrate their title in front of their home crowd on Thursday Night Football.

It didn’t go to plan though, as the Detroit Lions stunned the Chiefs as Kansas City’s new season got off to a surprising start.

But, after having some time to recalibrate, the Chiefs got back to winning ways in Week 2, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9.

It wasn’t pretty, but two touchdown passes from superstar Patrick Mahomes on his 28th birthday were enough in what was a rematch of an exciting playoff game in last postseason’s divisional round.

One TD toss went to Skyy Moore and the other was caught by Travis Kelce, who returned to the starting lineup after missing the season-opener with a knee injury.

And the Chiefs defense handled the rest, holding the Jaguars to the second-lowest points total in head coach Doug Pederson’s time at the helm.

In particular, the return of Chiefs star defensive lineman Chris Jones was a huge boon for the team, as he finished the game with one-and-a-half sacks, one tackle for loss and a pass defended.

Four-time Pro-Bowler Jones missed the Week 1 game in a contract holdout, but the 29-year-old signed a new contract extension during the week and returned to action as a result.

And he came up with the big plays in the clutch moments on Sunday, helping to force a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter as Jacksonville drove to tie the game.

It wasn’t the explosive offensive performance we’re accustomed to with the Chiefs but the defending champs avoided falling to 0-2 with the gritty victory.

“Our guys really sucked it up. It was hot and humid out there. I’m an offensive guy, but that was a beautiful thing defensively,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said afterwards.

“Offensively, we have to take care of the penalties and the turnovers, but to battle through it shows me a little something. We’ll get the other stuff fixed as we go.”

Overtime wins and ‘I’m talking to America here’

Both the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks were looking to banish some opening week demons in Week 2.

The Titans had narrowly lost, while the Seahawks had suffered a humbling home defeat to their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams.

Both teams took their time, but in the end, each claimed a vital overtime victory as they avoided remaining winless to start the season.

The Titans edged past the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 thanks to Nick Folk’s 41-yard field goal, while Tyler Lockett’s six-yard touchdown reception in OT gave the Seahawks a 37-31 victory over the Lions.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 246 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-24 attempts and ran for another while Derrick Henry added one TD on the ground as the Titans kept the Chargers – who remain winless with the defeat – at bay.

LA had the first opportunity in overtime to score the winning touchdown, but had to punt the ball away after not being able to create offense when it needed it, presenting an opening for the Titans.

It’s another disappointing result for the Chargers, who finished last season with a historic playoff defeat – despite holding a 27-0 lead late in the second quarter – to the Jaguars.

But Chargers head coach Brandon Staley isn’t worried about his team’s mentality.

“I’m not worried about the Jacksonville loss – the Jacksonville loss hasn’t carried onto the season whatsoever,” Staley said during his postgame press conference when a reporter brought up last season’s loss. “If you’ve seen our training camp or you’ve seen the way we’ve played in the first two games, it hasn’t had an impact on our team whatsoever.

“Our team is connected, our team has played its heart out in two games, and we’ve lost two tough games. It has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game and, if you ask anyone in our locker room, it has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game. And that’s just the truth.

“It’s a convenient storyline for you and for everybody else, but it’s not the truth. We’ve lost two tough games, but the guys in that locker room, the men in that locker room, they are finishers and they have what it takes and we’re excited to prove ourselves.”

For the Seahawks, it was an up-and-down game, which resulted in a much-needed victory after giving up a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead.

Seattle quarterback Geno Smith threw for two touchdowns – including the game-winning overtime connection with Lockett – and Kenneth Walker ran for two more.

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff was having his own excellent game with three touchdowns, but he was intercepted midway through the fourth quarter by Tre Brown, which was run back 40 yards for a touchdown.

A clutch overtime drive from Smith and the Seahawks – 10 plays and 75 yards long – ended with Lockett’s touchdown and helped kickstart Seattle’s season.

The highlight of the game for many though was when Smith attempted to complain to lead referee Alex Kemp about a call while Kemp was announcing a penalty decision, only for Kemp to reply: “I’m talking to America here, excuse me.”

Cowboys ease to win as Jets struggle without Aaron Rodgers

The loss of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets was a momentous one.

For a team which entered the new season with so much optimism, the four-time NFL MVP’s season-ending Achilles tear on just his fourth play with his new team was a real gut punch.

The shocking injury meant that Zach Wilson – the former No. 2 overall draft pick who had underwhelmed in his two previous years with the team – was thrust back into the starting lineup and the spotlight.

In Week 2, Wilson demonstrated why the team traded for Rodgers during the offseason, as he threw three interceptions in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys defense – spearheaded by Micah Parsons – is known as one of the league’s best, but Wilson looked lost throughout.

His one bright-spot was an exquisite 68-yard touchdown connection with Garrett Wilson, but it was the Jets’ only touchdown of the day.

Wilson finished with 12-of-27 passing for 170 yards and a touchdown to go along with the three picks and had a team-high 36 rushing yards on five attempts. But despite the result, Wilson believes he’s better prepared to succeed this season in Rodgers’ absence.

“I feel like I’m seeing it well, I really do,” the 24-year-old told reporters. “And it’s really unfortunate to show that as an offense because we’ve got to be better, I need to be better.

“But we’re right there, and so we’re going to go back, and it’s a long season, we’re going to go watch this film and see how we can improve. Everyone trusts and believes in each other, and we all love each other, so we’re excited for the challenge.”

Jets head coach Robert Saleh deflected blame away from Wilson, instead putting the blame on his shoulders.

“I don’t know if we gave (the offense) much of a chance,” Saleh told reporters. “Defensively, we just couldn’t get off the field on third down today, had our opportunities. Give them credit, they were efficient, they were ahead of the chains, and, when we did catch them in third-and-long situations, they were still able to capitalize.

“We just didn’t give ourselves a chance defensively, to get off the field, to give our offense a chance to get any kind of rhythm going.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott impressed, throwing 31-of-38 for 255 yards and two touchdowns in the home win, which sent Dallas to 2-0 on the year.

Full Week 2 Sunday scores

Away vs. home

Green Bay Packers 24-25 Atlanta Falcons

Las Vegas Raiders 10-38 Buffalo Bills

Baltimore Ravens 27-24 Cincinnati Bengals

Seattle Seahawks 37-31 Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts 31-20 Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs 17-9 Jacksonville Jaguars

Chicago Bears 17-27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Los Angeles Chargers 24-27 Tennessee Titans

New York Giants 31-28 Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers 30-23 Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets 10-30 Dallas Cowboys

Washington Commanders 35-33 Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins 24-17 New England Patriots