The Great Wall (North China)

Brief Introduction
One of the most magnificent ancient military defense works in the world.
The construction of the segments which later made up the Great Wallbegan during the Spring and Autumn Period and lasted into the WarringStates Period (c. 7th century BC-4th century BC). Many feudal statesbuilt hundreds of li of wall fortifications as boundaries. Theseunlinked walls were the embryonic form of the Great Wall. In 221 BC,Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered the walls of the Qin, Zhao and Yankingdoms in the north to be linked up and reinforced, after he unitedChina. The extended new wall stretched from Lintao (now Lop Nur inXinjiang) in the west through Fengsui to the western edge of Xinjiang,with a total length of over 20,000 li. The construction work lasted forover 2,000 years, through such dynasties as the Northern Wei, NorthernQi, Eastern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Liao, Kin and Ming.
It was during the Ming Dynasty that the Wall took on its presentform. At that time, it stretched some 6,300 km from the Yalujiang Riverin the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west, and is known as the TenThousand Li Wall. Rammed earth was later replaced by stone, accordingto the varying physical features of individual sections. Othermaterials such as planks were also used. Sometimes mountain ridges wereeven taken directly as the body of the wall.
The Great Wall, a product of cultural conflict and convergence, andintegration of farming and nomadic economies, contributed to promotethe economic development of the Central Plains, to unite and stabilizethe multi-ethnic nation, and to secure the free flow of transport alongthe Silk Road. Though the Wall no longer functions as it used to, it isa monument of ancient Chinese culture and constitutes a wonder of theworld, together with Pyramids of Egypt, Colosseum Rome, the LeaningTower of Pisa, and so on.
Cultural Heritage
The Great Wall is a miracle in human history. No other ancientbuilding in the world has been constructed for so long a time, on sucha grand scale and at so tremendous a cost. Dr. Sun Yat-sen oncecommented that the Great Wall is the most famous work in China and aunique and truly marvelous sight on earth. Neil Armstrong, the firstman who set foot on the moon, reported that, There are only twoman-made works that can be identified from space and the moon. One isthe Great Wall of China; the other is the dykes of Holland. Former U.S.president Nixon said, after he visited the Wall, that only a greatnation could build such a great wall. The Wall well deserves its placeon the World Heritage List. The Chinese government has attached greatimportance to tourism, which is supported by wonderful scenery, richhistoric sites, and the various cultures and arts of different ethnicminorities.
The Great Wall, both as a cultural relic and unique naturallandscape, has its special advantages. It has been widely known amongdomestic and foreign tourists that one is not a true man unless heclimbs up the Great Wall (by Mao Zedong, originally referring to hisdetermination to fight against Japanese invaders in the north). No onewill miss the opportunity to visit it. When the former Prime Ministerof the UK Mr. Heath mounted the Wall, he said, The past and future ofChina boast the same charm. …The Great Wall looks much more spectacularthan I've seen in photos, embroideries or paintings. This just showsthe eagerness of tourists to visit the Great Wall. It will stand withChina and the world forever.
Body of the Wall
Take the Badaling section for example. The Wall there is on average7.8 m high and 6.7 m wide, narrowing to 4.5 m on the top in atrapezoidal shape. It was built with slabs and bricks, with rammedearth at the core. At that time, building materials could only beconveyed by porters, simple vehicles, mules or goats. It was recordedthat it took thousands of people a half year to finish a section 200 mlong.
Legends and Stories
There is a legend about Meng Jiangnü, whose husband was conscriptedto work on the Wall soon after they got married. When autumn came, MengJiangnü worried that her husband would suffer from the cold in thenorth, so she walked all the way to the construction site of the GreatWall, taking padded clothes which she had made for him. But when shegot there, she was told that her husband had already died fromexhaustion and had been buried at the foot of the Wall. Meng Jiangnü'sgrief was so bitter that 800 li of the Wall collapsed, revealing a pitcontaining piles of skeletons. She couldn't identify her husband amongthem, and so she threw herself into the sea together with some of them.Later, two rocks in the shape of grave tablets appeared at the spot. Atemple named after Meng Jiangnü was built at the foot of the Great Wallto commemorate her loyalty to her husband.