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The Great Wall of China has become one of the most admired and treasured structure all over the world. It was listed in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. With its 3,000 miles long, it is the symbol of China’s perseverance and artistry. Standing on the wall gives you a view of China which you will never forget!
The Great Wall winds up and down spreading across deserts, hills, mountains and grasslands with a length of approximately 6,700 kilometers. It begins at the Shanhai Guan and goes west to the Jiayu Guan in the Gobi desert.
For decades, the famous Great Wall of China has continued to amaze even the most brilliants of engineers and architects because of the way it was created and designed. The bricks that were used were smaller. This reflects advancements in the wall's construction technique.
There are no accurate dates of the exact time when the building of the Great Wall started, but history tells us that the origin of the Great Wall dates back to 453-221 B.C., during the Warring States Period. It is believed that the origin of the Great Wall originated as a form of military defense against the intrusion of the tribes who lived on its borders, in the earlier Zhou dynasty. Later, in the spring and autumn period (770 BC – 476 BC), the wall was built further to extend its defense walls and provide a greater security from the attacks of the other states.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang who then became the first emperor, got credits for creating the wall after conquering and unifying the states of China. During his reign, the separate walls built by the states of the Qin, Yan and Zhao kingdoms were joined to form a more defensive system on the northern border of China. Emperor Qin took about ten years to complete the building of the wall which finally stretched from the west in Linzhao (Gansu Province) to the east in Liaodong (Jilin Province). A tour to the Great Wall is like rewinding back to the history of how China evolved to become what it is today.
The way the Great Wall was built remains a mystery and is quite unbelievable. During the time of the Han Dynasty, the wall was extended to the west. Other additions were made in varying locations to cater to the needs of the military. The original material used for building the wall was tamped earth; it was later replaced by more solid materials because the older materials were easily devastated, decades after it was constructed. The manpower who helped in the construction of the great wall were soldiers, local people, villagers and prisoners. Circular towers and defensive walls are some of the features that make the wall a very unique one. These things have led a lot to believe that the wall was the sole instrument in maintaining the peace in China.
An interesting fact about the great wall, is the extension on which it stretches. It has various sections on which it winds through, from east to west, passing through various provinces, villages, hills and grasslands. This has led to a major boost in the tourism around these places showing the incredible ethnic diversities of the provinces and their wonderful natural landscapes. The most commonly visited sections of the Great Wall are the Badaling, Simatai and Mutianyu sections. These areas receive a high number of tourists all year round, due to the significance they played during the construction of the Great Wall.
The Badaling section, located 70km northwest from the center of Beijing, was the earliest section of the wall to be opened to tourists from all over. It was an important military zone during the Spring, Autumn and Warring periods. It receives the highest number of tourists every year, including foreign leaders from different parts of the world.
Simatai section is located to the east side of the Jinshanling stretch of the Great Wall. It is the most quiet and remote section of the Wall which is said by many to be the most beautiful section of the wall. Here, the wall allows tourists to really see the wall untouched and as it was 500 years ago. Because the Simatai section of the Great wall has retained much of its ancient features, it provides quite a hazardous passage for hikers and climbers who wish to walk this section of the wall, making it popular and more adventurous.
The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is located in Huairou County of Beijing and winds along lofty mountains from the southeast to the northwest. This section of the wall plays a significant role in Chinese military history. It is covered with a great abundance of trees and plants making it the greenest section of the wall. It is the main essence of the Great Wall noted for its unique style.
For tourists who love to travel, there are wide varieties of tour plans around the great wall which are being arranged to suit the best sections for your visiting pleasure.
At present, cable cars are already installed so that tourists will not tire themselves out by walking some of the length of the wall. This way, they will be able to enjoy the sceneries and the views that made the wall famous worldwide. |
