The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a 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 are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance. |
Great Wall Sections:| The Great Wall as we see today was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It starts from Hushan Great Wall in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west traversing provinces of Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai. This part shows the incredible diversity of scenery and ethnic people along the wall, and offers the most detailed introductions and travel tips regarding famous sections of the wall.
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Great Wall Travel:| Making a trip to at least one section of the Great Wall should be a must for your China Trip. Quality tour plans make travel comfortable, memorable and enjoyable. Want to discover the charm of the wall with TravelChinaGuide? Please see our Memorable Highlights Tours. Longing for a real adventure? You can refer to Great Wall Hiking Tours which are carefully designed by experienced hikers. Besides wonderful Great Wall tours, here we offer practical travel tips including the best travel time, packing list as well as health and safety concerns. |
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Recommended Tours including the visit to Great Wall:
History of Great Wall:| Excitement abounds regarding the origin, vicissitude and nature of the Great Wall of the Qin, Han, and Ming Dynasties. The Great Wall was originally built in the Spring, Autumn, and Warring States Periods as a defensive fortification by the three states: Yan, Zhao and Qin. It went through constant extensions and repairs in later dynasties. In fact, it began as independent walls for different states when it was first built, and did not become the "Great" wall until the Qin Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shihuang succeeded in his effort to have the walls joined together to fend off the invasions from the Huns in the north after the unification of China. Since then, the Great Wall has served as a monument of the Chinese nation throughout history. A visit to the Wall is like a tour through the history backwards, giving tourists a chance to better understand the history of China. |
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Great Wall Construction:| The mystery of the construction of the wall is amazing. The construction, which drew heavily on the local resources for construction materials, was carried out in-line with the local conditions under the management of contract and responsibility system. A great army of manpower, composed of soldiers, prisoners, and local people, built the wall. The construction result demonstrates the manifestation of the wisdom and tenacity of the Chinese people. |
Great Wall Culture:| Great Wall carries a considerable part of Chinese culture. It has long been incorporated into Chinese mythology and popular symbolism. The most beautiful of several legends is about the collapse of a section of the Wall caused by Meng Jiangnu, who cried bitterly over the death of her husband after he died while helping to build the wall. This legend has been spread widely through textbooks, folk songs and traditional operas, and it is well-known in China. |
Great Wall Protection:| 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. The Academy has called for greater protection of this important relic. |
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Travelers' Voices on China Great Wall
1.
Nov. 20,2009 00:40 Reply
Mr.Muhammad Abdur Rahman(Pakistan) said:
Dear,
I am from Pakistan and visit China in next month. I am comming to Urumchi in china. plese tell me Beijing is how far from Urumchi and how many days it take traveling from Urumchi to Beijing. Or tell me any other nearest place where i can see the great wall.
2.
Nov. 20,2009 00:21 Reply
Mr.kimiora daniel(new zealand) said:
how and by whom are the wonders chosen?
3.
Nov. 18,2009 22:08 Reply
Mr.praveen(India) said:
Hi,
I am staying in beijing...I want to visit the great wall of china...Is it the right time to visit? I want to see Juyongguan or Jinshanling or Simatai Gr8 wall of china...Among these which one is best to visit this weekend...???
Nov. 19,2009 03:48
Ms.SLEEPYHAMSTER replied:
Yes, it is the right time to see the wall. Of the three sections, I think Juyongguan is a good choice for it is repaired and the transportation is much easier. Jinshanling and Simatai are wild sections. You'd better go with other people if this is your first time to the wall for your safety concern.
4.
Nov. 18,2009 04:50 Reply
Ms.Yvonne(Ukraine) said:
I heard it snows heavily in north China these days. I plan to visit the wall during my trip to China next month. Do you think I can still visit the wall? Plz help.
Nov. 18,2009 09:48
Ms.Rells(China) replied:
The temperature has gone up again from this week. So there's no need to worry about your visit in the next few days.
5.
Nov. 13,2009 07:43 Reply
Ms.Guest(USA) said:
Fact or Fiction:
The Great Wall can be seen from the moon.
Nov. 13,2009 19:45
Ms.Hannah replied:
I'm sure it's a fiction. The Great Wall definitely can not be seen from the moon.
Nov. 13,2009 19:06
Mr.Benji Smith(USA) replied:
It's fiction, it can barely be seen from a close orbit on the International Space Station
Nov. 16,2009 09:04
Mr.Mehser replied:
It is fiction because you can only see it close to the Earth not from the moon.
Nov. 18,2009 09:39
Ms.Poppy(USA) replied:
You can see the great wall from Earths orbit.
You can't see it from the Moon though. :)
6.
Nov. 17,2009 04:54 Reply
Ms.Maria said:
Is there any good film about great wall so we can enjoy and learn?
Nov. 17,2009 21:46
Ms.SLEEPYHAMSTER replied:
Well, suggest you watch "The Odyssey of the Great Wall", a very nice film about the life of people living at the foot of the Great Wall.
7.
Nov. 16,2009 10:26 Reply
Ms.Poop(USA) said:
What is the acomplishments of the han dynasty?
Nov. 16,2009 20:53
Ms.SLEEPYHAMSTER replied:
Well, Han Dynasty achieved a lot in many aspects such as economy, military and foreign trade. The Great Wall in Han Dynasty was the longest one in Chinese history.
Nov. 17,2009 09:59
Mr.h(us) replied:
1mile a mounth
8.
Nov. 5,2009 05:08 Reply
Mr.Leo said:
How tall is the Great Wall?
Nov. 9,2009 04:48
Mr.Ruby replied:
About 6 to 7 meters tall.
Nov. 13,2009 09:40
Mr.kewl(usa) replied:
20ft. tall
Nov. 17,2009 09:57
Mr.hank(us) replied:
15 to 30 feet
9.
Nov. 16,2009 09:48 Reply
Mr.kewl(usa) said:
39 Interesting Facts About . . . . . .
The Great Wall of China
1.While the Great Wall of China is not one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is typically included in the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.c
2.In 1987, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) placed the Great Wall on its list of the world’s great national and historical sites.a
3.That the Great Wall is a single, continuous wall built all at once is a myth. In reality, the wall is a discontinuous network of wall segments built by various dynasties to protect China’s northern boundary.e
4.During its construction, the Great Wall was called “the longest cemetery on earth” because so many people died building it. Reportedly, it cost the lives of more than one million people.d
5.The Great Wall of China is also known as the wanli changcheng or Long Wall of 10,000 Li (a li is a measure of distance, approximately 1/3 of a mile). The main wall is around 2,145 miles (3,460 km) long with an extra 1,770 miles (2,860 km) of branches and spurs.b
The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world
6.The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world.d
7.The most visited section of the Great Wall is in Badaling, close to Beijing, which was built during the Ming Dynasty. It was the first section of the wall to open to tourists in 1957. It is where Nixon visited and was the finish site of a cycling course in the 2008 Summer Olympics.a
8.As early as the seventh century B.C., a number of smaller walls that served as fortifications and watch towers had been built around the country. Initially each state (Chu, Qi, Wei, Han, Zhao, Yan, and Qin) that would be united in the first Chinese empire had its own individual wall.f
9.The length of all Chinese defense walls built over the last 2,000 years is approximately 31,070 miles (50,000 km). Earth's circumference is 24,854 miles (40,000 km).a
10.
Nov. 15,2009 15:14 Reply
Ms.idk(usa) said:
HEllo pplz....well i was jst wonderin How does the Great wall of china has impacted china today?
Nov. 15,2009 20:02
Mr.Jay replied:
The Great Wall of China is the no.1 tourist attraction in China now. It is very important in chinese tourism.