The Great Wall of China

One of the greatest wonders of the world is the Great Wall of China. In fact, this structure is so magnificent that it was enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. You will notice the winding up and down mountains across deserts, plateaus, and grasslands, as the Great Wall of China stretches an astounding 4,163 miles.

The history of this massive wall is more than 2,000 years but unfortunately, some sections have withered away from age and now completely, disappeared. Even so, this structure is just one visible from space while enjoyed by people from around the world. Originally built as a defensive fortification by the three states of Qin, Yan, and Zhao, the Great Wall of China underwent constant extensions and repairs in the latter years.

Fascinating, the wall started out as independent walls for the states, not becoming the incredible joined wall, as we know it today until the Qin Dynasty. Now, the Great Wall of China is a Chinese monument that allows people to literally, walk on a piece of this country’s vast history. The remains of the wall you see in Beijing are from the Ming Dynasty. During this time, granite and bricks were used to lay the wall’s foundation. Then to strengthen the wall, Ming authorities separated the wall into nine zones, which fell under the control of a Zhen.

Looking like a giant dragon, you can stand on the beacon tower and marvel at the massive size. Considering the primitive tools and materials, it is truly amazing to see not only the sound structure but also the size of this structure. Even more interesting is the incredible labor force required to complete the wall. The construction began between the 7th and 8th centuries with an architectural style that marvels everyone who sees it.

The average height of the wall is 33 feet tall with a width of about 16 feet. To give you an idea of the effort put into the creation of this wall, during the Qin Dynasty, it took some 300,000 troops a full 10 years. Then there were builders who used convicts and laborers. However, in the Northern Qi Dynasty, one section of the wall going from Nankou to Datong (Beijing to Shangai) took more than 1.8 million people! Because of the dedication and effort by these people, we can now enjoy this incredible site. In its heyday, the Great Wall of China included walls with special passes, signal towers, watchtowers, and moats.

With the restructuring during the Ming Dynasty, everything was enhanced, enabling the imperial court to keep in contact with the military and administrative agencies from the ground up while allowing the troops to maintain defense. This wall has also been incorporated into the Chinese symbolism and mythology. For example, one such legend is that a section of the wall collapsed by Meng Jiangnu who cried over the death of her husband during the wall’s construction.

To enjoy this massive site, you can take a full tour, which is both comfortable and informative. However, you can also visit the Great Wall of China in a natural state by going to Simatai just to the northeast of Beijing. There, the wall is still in its original state while the area is not as affected by tourism. Keep in mind that regardless of how you see the Great Wall of China, when in this Asian country, you really need to make this a part of your experience.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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