The Great Wall of China was originally built to protect the country from invasion by nomadic groups and the Mongols. One of the most well-known myths is that the Great Wall of China is visible from the moon. This is not true, as no man-made structure is visible from the moon.
Although the Great Wall was initially built more than 2000 years ago, which is, around the year 221 BC, most of the current Great Wall of China that is widely visited was built during the Ming dynasty, that is, between the years 1368 and 1644. When the Great Wall was being constructed, it became notorious and reportedly was given the name 'the longest cemetery on earth' because it is said that more than one million workers died while building the wall. Initially, when the construction of the Great Wall had just started, mostly rammed earth and stones and some wood was used for the building. It was during the Ming dynasty that more firm materials, like bricks, tiles, lime etc. were used to build the wall. The length of the Great Wall is not defined because the Wall is broken, built and rebuilt in many different parts along its length. However, it is said that the Great Wall is around 5,500 miles long. Watchtowers were made at regular intervals along the length of the wall. These were used for keeping watch and would house troops and supplies required by them.
I went to the MUTIANYU section as it was considered to be a quieter section, with fewer tourist around. This was indeed so with hardly any other people around, certainly in the afternoon when I was there. This section has a chair lift to go up and down and also a toboggan ride to go down. I went up on the chair lift and down on the toboggan, which was quite fun and not something I would have expected at the Great Wall. Others who went to the Badaling section said that it was crawling with tourists and very difficult to walk on the Wall.
It was a hazy day so the photographs are not very clear.
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Although the Great Wall was initially built more than 2000 years ago, which is, around the year 221 BC, most of the current Great Wall of China that is widely visited was built during the Ming dynasty, that is, between the years 1368 and 1644. When the Great Wall was being constructed, it became notorious and reportedly was given the name 'the longest cemetery on earth' because it is said that more than one million workers died while building the wall. Initially, when the construction of the Great Wall had just started, mostly rammed earth and stones and some wood was used for the building. It was during the Ming dynasty that more firm materials, like bricks, tiles, lime etc. were used to build the wall. The length of the Great Wall is not defined because the Wall is broken, built and rebuilt in many different parts along its length. However, it is said that the Great Wall is around 5,500 miles long. Watchtowers were made at regular intervals along the length of the wall. These were used for keeping watch and would house troops and supplies required by them.
I went to the MUTIANYU section as it was considered to be a quieter section, with fewer tourist around. This was indeed so with hardly any other people around, certainly in the afternoon when I was there. This section has a chair lift to go up and down and also a toboggan ride to go down. I went up on the chair lift and down on the toboggan, which was quite fun and not something I would have expected at the Great Wall. Others who went to the Badaling section said that it was crawling with tourists and very difficult to walk on the Wall.
It was a hazy day so the photographs are not very clear.
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The cable car up and the slide down
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| Shows the uneveness of the steps |
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| I walked from where this picture was taken to the top of the hill in the distance, and back again. It really was hard work! |
Yes, I will agree walking the wall was hard work, and one thing I have learned to hate is steps, they are always different heights, widths
ReplyDeleteBut just imagine how the troops felt being stationed here and then getting a 'shout' to repel invaders
How were these troops fed and watered on a daily basis ?
What sort of pay did they get and who paid them, there must have been thousands to patrol and protect this wall