The Great Wall of China
Location: Northern China, parts accessible from Beijing
Transportation: Train or buses
Culture/History Rating: 5/5
Scenery Rating: 4/5
Hotels: N/A
Summary: There are two famous saying related to the great wall, depending on where you are from. If you come from foreign countries, you would probably have heard of the saying "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." The local equivalent in chinese roughly means "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you are not a real man."
Geographicially the Great Wall of China streches from Shanhai Pass on the Bohai Sea in the east to Lop Nur in the southeastern portion of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, covering over a formidable 6,352 km (3,948 miles). Historically the construction started around the wSpring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), till Ming Dynasty (1368-1644AD). For over two thousand years the Great Wall separated two cultures, the nomads in the north and the agricultural way of life in the south.
No wonder the Great Wall of China is of such symbolic importance to the Chinese people, that it was used on the Chinese currency, as well as the National Anthem.
Description:
| The Great Wall of China - A Brief Historical introduction.
Although Emperor Qinshihuang claimed credit for building the Great Wall of China, the construction of the Great Wall actually began in Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC) as a military fortification against raids by tribes on the northern borders. However, it was not known as the Great Wall of China back then. After Emperor Qinshihuang united China in 221 BC, major construction effort began to join all parts of the wall to form the Qin Great wall, later known as the Great Wall of China. Constructing the Qin Great Wall took about ten years to complete, and it stretched from Linzhao (in the eastern part of today's Gansu Province) in the west to Liaodong (in today's Jilin Province) in the east. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang, several emperor made efforts to extend and enhance the structures of the walls. As the northern tribes became more powerful, more labor was spent to extend the size and structure of the Great Wall...(read more) |  |
 | The Great Wall of China - Engineering of the Great Wall.
Hundreds of thousands of troops, conscripts and criminals were used to construct the Great Wall of China. The materials used are those available near the wall itself. Near Beijing the wall is constructed from quarried limestone blocks. In other locations it may be quarried granite or fired brick. Where such materials are used, two finished walls are erected with packed earth and rubble fill placed in between with a final paving to form a single unit. In some areas the blocks were cemented with a mixture of sticky rice and egg whites. In the extreme western desert locations, where good materials are scarce, the wall was constructed from dirt rammed between rough wood tied together with woven mats. The wall consist mainly of 3 types of structures, namely Beacon towers for defence and solidier accomodation, Walls for fortification and Passes for allowing movements...(read more) |
| The Great Wall of China - Military Facts
Along the wall, there are many signal towers, which were used to transmit military message. In those pre-electricity days, there are mainly 2 ways of transmitting messages, by hourse carrying mail or smoke and fire. Where the Great Wall of China was built, the terrain is rough and steep which makes horse riding impractical. Thus fire and smoke were the most efficient ways for communication (normally fire was used at night and smoke during the day). There are 2 sets of signals used to inform friendly force enemy information, one set of signals to signal enemy action (e.g. enemy attacking wall, enemy on the wall etc.), another to give indications of enemy strength (a single shot and a single fire or smoke signal implies about 100 enemies, two shots and two signals warned of five hundred, three shots and three signals warned of over a thousand and so on)...(read more) |  |
 | The Great Wall of China - Section Information
Although many parts of the Great Wall could not survive wars, natural wearing and villages looting the stones for building houses, many parts that survived became popular tourist attractions visited by thousands of travellers every year.
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| The Great Wall of China - Legends and Stories
Lots of beautiful legends and stories about the Great Wall took place following along the construction, and since that time these stories have spread around the country.
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 | The Great Wall of China - Preservation and Restoration
Following a forty-five day long survey of 101 sections of the Wall in different provinces, the China Great Wall Academy reported on December 12, 2002 that the forces of nature and destruction at the hand of mankind are bringing about the gradual reduction of its extent with the result that less than 30% remains in good condition. There are huge government efforts placed to protect and preserve the remains of the Great Wall, and restoring it. For instance, patrol team is already set up. A buffer zone ranging from 500 metres to 2 kilometres away from the Wall will be set up to protect it from further human damages...(read more) |