Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built primarily to protect the Chinese Empire from the Mongolians and other invaders. Building commenced in the 7th century B.C. when China was still divided into many small states. The construction of the Great wall had never ceased for nearly all the Chinese fuadal dynasties.
Photo by Smoking Permitted
Extending 4,000 miles from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, the Great Wall of China is a testament to the hard work that went into building it. It has been estimated that somewhere in the region of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of its construction. When you see it in person, its hard to fathome just how it was build. The Great Wall of China runs along valleys and edges of mountains.
At its peak, the Great Wall was guarded by more than one million men. Communication between the army units along the length of the Great Wall, including the ability to call reinforcements and warn garrisons of enemy movements, was of high importance. Signal towers were built upon hill tops or other high points along the wall for their visibility.
Photo by exfordy
As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China, The Great Wall is China’s most famous sight.
While some portions north of Beijing and near tourist centers have been preserved and even reconstructed, in many locations the Wall is in disrepair. Those parts might serve as a village playground or a source of stones to rebuild houses and roads. Sections of the Wall are also prone to graffiti and vandalism. Parts have been destroyed because the Wall is in the way of construction. No comprehensive survey of the wall has been carried out, so it is not possible to say how much of it survives, especially in remote areas.
Great Wall of China Visitor Information
The Great Wall has a number of restored sections that tour operators provide daily services to. Many guesthouses will also organise tours to the Great Wall. There are several sections accessible from Beijing. Some are very popular and often crowded, but surprisingly if you walk along the wall for longer than five minutes you will soon find that most people have vanished as they have come for no more than a quick photo. Walking along the wall can be difficult in places, stairs are often steep and not well maintained so parts can be a tough climb.