| In my article about the new Seven Wonders of | | | | China are: |
| the World, I made mention of the highly | | | | |
| admired Great Wall of China which happens to | | | | • It is the travel icon of China and a |
| be in the list. As the declaration ceremony | | | | world renowned tourist destination. |
| fast approaches, I have decided to feature a | | | | |
| post dedicated to the Great Wall of China. | | | | • It is a beautifully structured |
| | | | photogenic symbol with imposing watchtowers |
| By far, this icon has become one of mankind's | | | | winding up and down steep hills, cliffs, |
| most greatest constructions which continue to | | | | plateaus and deserts from across the east |
| attract tourists from around. With a rich | | | | coast to Xinjiang in the northwest of China. |
| historical and cultural background, the Great | | | | |
| Wall of China has become one of the leading | | | | • It was built by over a million people |
| vacation travel destinations in the world. | | | | who happened to be peasants, prisoners and |
| But then again, you may be curious to know | | | | soldiers thousands of who died in the |
| why the Great Wall of China was built. | | | | process. |
| Something about the Great Wall of China is | | | | |
| that, you need to see and climb it to truly | | | | • It used to be called the Ten Thousand |
| appreciate its beauty. | | | | Li Wall which referred to the wall's length. |
| | | | (1 li equals half a kilometer or one third of |
| Dating back to some two thousand years ago, | | | | a mile). |
| the Great Wall of China was built as a key to | | | | |
| protect the agricultural lands from invasion | | | | • It was during the Qin (pronounced as |
| and to keep the nation's people from vacating | | | | "chin") dynasty that the modern word "China" |
| the empire. Originally built out of stone, | | | | was derived hence the historical correlation |
| wood, grass and earth, the construction of | | | | between China and the great wall. |
| the great wall began in the early seventh | | | | |
| century B.C when the earliest regional | | | | • The sections in the eastern part of |
| kingdoms were built solely for their own | | | | China were built out of bricks and stones |
| defensive military needs. The different watch | | | | while in the western sections of wall were |
| towers across the wall were used by the army | | | | made out of less durable materials - earth |
| as a warning system. The time system during | | | | and grass. |
| this period used the fire and smoke signals | | | | |
| to declare night time and day time | | | | • The watch towers on the wall served |
| respectively. This enabled reliable | | | | as a deployment zone between one another. |
| communication to be relayed from one tower to | | | | |
| the other. Progressively, more sections were | | | | Now that the Great Wall has become what it is |
| added to the construction of the wall as the | | | | today, it has four popular sections where you |
| different kingdoms flourished. It was later | | | | can visit on your next travel to china. These |
| during the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC) that | | | | are the Badaling section, Mutianyu section, |
| unified China made the wall a whole entity; | | | | Simatai section and Shixiaguan section, all |
| the wall was built, repaired and further | | | | of which serve different purposes for |
| renovated to link the old sections which were | | | | scholars, tourists and researchers on a great |
| previously built to the new ones. | | | | wall tour. The best month to visit the Great |
| | | | Wall of China is between May and October when |
| Over the next 1700 years, the Great Wall of | | | | the weather allows for great visiting |
| China was enhanced and enlarged which | | | | periods. |
| gradually became a world renowned manmade | | | | |
| wonder. | | | | For comments and inquiries about this |
| | | | article, visit Great Wall of China tours. |
| Additional facts about the Great Wall of | | | | |