Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was
enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon,
the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and
plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to
west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections of
the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is
still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its
architectural grandeur and historical significance.
Sections:
The Great Wall as we see today was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty. It
starts from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west
traversing provinces of Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi and Gansu.
Badaling Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall
Huanghuacheng Great Wall
Juyongguan Great Wall
Simatai Great Wall
Badaling:
Badaling Great Wall, the most representative part, was promoted
as a key national cultural relic, protected under the approval of the State Council in 1961.
In 1988, it was enlisted in the World Cultural Heritage Directory by UNESCO.
July 7, 2007 has once again witnessed the worldwide reputation that the Great
Wall gained: it was listed among the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Badaling Great Wall is situated in Yanqing County, over 70 kilometres (43
miles) north of Beijing. It is the most well-preserved section of the Great
Wall, built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This section with an average
altitude of over 1,000 meters (3,282 feet) is the outpost of the Juyongguan
Pass. The mountain slope is very steep and the roads are tortuous. These
features made it a military stronghold. Badaling Great Wall is like a strong
dragon winding its way along the mountain ranges.
Most parts of the preserved Badaling Great Wall were built and reinforced
during the Ming Dynasty to defend the capital against the intrusion of these
Mongolian people. The structure of the wall consists of huge bar-stones and
bricks. The inside of the wall has been formed by tampering earth and small
stones, which makes the wall very firm and strong. Internally, the wall is about
six meters (20 feet) wide, which would allow horses to gallop five abreast. A
number of small holes have been drilled on the wall to allow archers to shoot
arrows. There is a barrel-drain and a moat both inside and outside the wall. In
a word, military fortification has been paramount in the consideration of every
wall detail.
Mutianyu Great Wall:
Located in Huairou County about 45 miles from Beijing, Mutianyu Great Wall
enjoys a long history and is part of the glorious culture of China. It connects
Juyongguan Pass in the west and Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. The wall was
first built in Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557). In Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644),
Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang, two famous patriotic generals, rebuilt it in order to
strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded the strategic pass. It
served as the northern protective screen, guarding the capital and imperial
mausoleums for generations.
Mutianyu Great Wall winds 1.4 miles through lofty mountains and high
ridges, many sections of which are made of granite. The unique structure makes
the wall almost indestructible. It measures 23 to 26 feet high and four to five
yards wide. Both of the walls inner and outer sides have parapets to defend
against enemies coming from the two sides. Some parapets are saw- tooth shaped
instead of the regular rectangular form. Below the parapets, there are square
embrasures the top of which are designed in an arc structure, different from the
traditional round embrasures.
There are 22 watch towers distributed at close intervals along the wall.
They are located not only in the main wall but also at the distinctive branch
cities. Branch cities are built on the hill ridge against the inner or outer
side of the wall. They measure from several yards to dozens of yards across. On
the northwest over 3,281-feet hills, lies a section of the wall called Ox Horn
Edge. On the steep and lofty peaks, there are two walls named Flying Eagle
Flies Facing Upward and Arrow Lock. What is more rarely seen on the southeast
side is a general gateway platform guarded by three watch towers together. In
locations of strategic importance, batteries are set up to reinforce the defense
capabilities. Mutianyu Great Wall really deserves to be the archetype of the ten
thousand li Great Wall.
Whats more, the national first-rate cable car is installed in Mutianyu
Great Wall. A sled named Speed will give you an opportunity to experience
thrills by taking you swoop down from the high mountains. China Stone City
collects weird and beautiful stones, attracting more and more visitors to come
and see.
Huanghuacheng:
Huanghuacheng Great Wall is also well worth visiting. It was
built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), located at Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District, 65
kilometers (40.39 miles) from Beijing City. This section of the Great Wall at
10,800 meters (about 6711 miles) long is a resort with mountains, lakes and the
ancient Great Wall.
When summer comes, the entire village under the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is
immersed in a sea of yellow wild flowers (Yellow flower is huanghua in
Chinese). Consequently, this village got the name Hunghuacheng, and this section
of the Great Wall is called Huanghuacheng Great Wall.
Going to Huanghuacheng Great Wall, you have four things to do at least.
First, you should take photos. Since the lake breaks this section of the Great
Wall into three segments naturally, its uniqueness might surprise you. And the
Huanghuacheng Reservoir lies here, shaped like a curved moon. Second, go to
visit the chestnut garden under the Great Wall, dating back to the Ming Dynasty.
The ancient chestnut trees still grow very well. Third, climb up the steepest
section of the Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Shibadeng. It is like a dragon, ready
to fly into the blue sky. Fourth, look at Yaoziyu Castle. It was built in the
Ming Dynasty, still well-preserved. In the castle, there is an ancient Chinese
scholar tree. It is said that touching it could bring you a blessing.
Juyongguan:
Juyongguan Pass, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of
Changping County, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Beijing, is a renowned
pass of the Great Wall of China. Enlisted in the World Heritage Directory in
1987, it is a national cultural protection unit.
Situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, Juyongguan Pass has long been
a military stronghold. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC)
and Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), the Yan State built fortifications
here. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589), this section was linked
to the Great Wall of China. This pass served as a natural barrier to the capital
of Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasties. Therefore, immediately after
the founding of his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty,
ordered the pass to be rebuilt to protect the borders from intrusions of the
Mongolian tribe. Many fierce battles were fought in Juyongguan Pass of Great
Wall.
Juyongguan Pass is not just a military stronghold, but also a beautiful
scenic spot. Around the pass, beautiful flowers and lush trees dot the
mountains. A splendid picture! As early as the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), it was
named as one of the eight best scenery of Beijing.
Simatai:
Lying in the Gubeikou Town northeast of Miyun County about 120
kilometers (75 miles) from Beijing, the Simatai Great Wall stretches about five
kilometers (three miles) from the Wangjinglou Tower in the east and connects to
the Jinshanling Great Wall in the west. It has 35 beacon towers. Constructed
under the supervision of Qi Jiguang, a famous general in the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644), it is the only part of the Great Walls that still has the original
appearance of the Ming Dynasty.
The Simatai Great Wall is celebrated for its steepness, queerness and
intactness. The main tourist attractions include the Stairway to Heaven, the
Fairy Tower, the Heaven Bridge and the Wangjinglou Tower.
The Simatai Great Wall is divided into eastern and western parts by a lake,
named the Mandarin Duck Lake, which is fed by two springs. One is warm, the
other is cold. Even in winter, the surface of the lake will never ice up.
The eastern part of the Great Wall has 15 watchtowers and was constructed
on the steep ridge of the mountain. It looks like a winding dragon jumping out
of the lake. There tourists can appreciate the Stairway to Heaven, the Fairy
Tower, the Heaven Bridge and the Wangjinglou Tower.