The Great Wall in Shaanxi are mainly distributed in Yulin, Yan'an and Weinan Cities. The total length measures more than 1,056 miles. Most of the walls were built in Wei, Qin, Sui, and Ming Dynasties. They are composed of city walls, terraces, barracks, beacon towers and watch posts. Because of the long history, natural disasters and human destruction, all that remains of the original Great Wall is the main part made of rammed earth. In history, Yulin Great Wall was famous and Zhenbeitai was known as the first tower on the Great Wall.
Yulin, north of Shaanxi, is located in the contiguous areas of Loess Plateau and the grasslands in Inner Mongolia. Throughout the ages, central China and the nomadic tribes ceaselessly fought for possession of this area of important strategic significance. Thus it became the necessary region where these two nationalities built their defensive works. Generally speaking, Great Wall in Yulin belongs to six historic periods.
Zhenbeitai (Pacify the North Tower), an observation platform and noted for the biggest terrace on the Great Wall, is located 3.1 miles north of Yulin City. It was built in the year 1607 in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) to protect the Horse Trade Market where Han people did business with nomads. Today the relic of this Great Wall tower is well preserved. You can climb to the top for a grand view of the beautiful desert beyond the pass.
Related Link:
Shaanxi Travel Guide
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Travelers' Voices on Great Wall in Shaanxi
1.
Jun. 22,2009 02:19 Reply
Mr.Bang(India) said:
Why the wall looks so different from the walls in Beijing?
Jun. 22,2009 04:13
Mr.Curt M. Erwin replied:
Because the wall was built mostly using the local materials such as earth and sand, and it lacks of protection. So it does not look that great and grander like Badaling in Beijing.
2.
Jan. 6,2009 15:15 Reply
Mr.toby(United states) said:
Why would you bury your workers in your wall?
Jan. 9,2009 01:22
Ms.Cora(China) replied:
Because the wall construction work is busy and urgent,and many people died out of the hard work each day,people don't have enough time to bury the deads,the easiest way is just to put their bodies under the foot of the wall!
Feb. 12,2009 22:39
Mr.Xavier D(Usa) replied:
Ha for those of you who do not know, people were not actually buried in the wall it was just a myth. People were infact buried in trenches along the wall. If they were buried in the wall it would create air pockets and would cause the wall to crumble or fall down, however you want to say it.
Feb. 17,2009 15:05
Ms.Blah replied:
Mr Xavier, you are smart! You have good critical thinking skills. If you had't thought of that, we would still be questioning! :)
Feb. 22,2009 22:23
Mr.aussie(Australia) replied:
What happens if you fall of the wall?
Feb. 25,2009 02:18
Ms.Baker(a country) replied:
If the thing is true about builders being buried in the Wall, isn't that kind of sad that people are walking on it. Like walking on dead peoples' graves. What sick wrong person would do that???
Mar. 2,2009 15:32
Mrs.Edward Cullen(USA) replied:
Cuz it was the quickest, easiest, and simplist way to get rid of them instead of taking the time to have a funeral and bury them and that other crap so they just threw 'em in the wall. DUH
Mar. 6,2009 13:33
Ms.Lisa(Canada) replied:
proabaly just to remember
Mar. 19,2009 23:38
Ms.Isabella(Canada) replied:
Hello everyone,
The Great Wall of China was built more than 2000 years ago.
Some houses were built on burial-ground.
Mar. 30,2009 10:14
Mr.Ray DeFossez(USA) replied:
Please do not apply todays morals to what was long ago. China was being attacted from the north, a defence system was needed quickly. A wall seems to be a peaceul solution. What was going on in the rest f the world at the time? Yes, blodshed is history all over the planet. Kill or be killed... Is it not still human nature?