The landmark of China is undoubtedly the Great Wall. It is simply great. No eulogies are required to narrate its greatness. Built in 220-206 BC, this wall has a length of about 6250 KMs. It winds from one hill to another and dissolves into infinity.
The magnificance of the construction is mind blowing. The wall stands there as a symbol of human perseverance and the immortality of the ancient engineering technlogy. The wall has steps in it. We can walk on these steps along the wall. There are certain stretches along the path of the wall that are well maintained and fit for walk. These spots have thousands of visitors everyday
The easiest way to reach the Great Wall is to travel from Beijing. It is around 80 KM journey to the nearest point. The nearest place is called Badaling that is around 80 KM north of Beijing. ( Beijing is around 1600KM away from Harbin). There are so many tour operators in Beijing to take us there. From the foot of the hill, there is cable car to reach the top of the hill from where we get access to the wall.
The journey in the cable car iteslef is a thirilling experience. The cable car takes us to the dizzy heights and a view from there is simply marvelous. Behold and cherish the experience forever as a piece of memeory of the visit to the Land of Dragons
The wall has a maximum width of 9.1 m (30 ft) and is about the same colour as the soil surrounding it.
Standing (or sitting) on the steps of the wall and clicking pictures is a feeling that takes us to the top of the world. One has to live to that dream and I wish all of my readers a chance to see the Wall unfolded right in front of your eyes with all its grandour.
The see more photos click : Photos from The Great Wall of China ( taken in November 2007)
"The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications running in general east to west through the entire northern part of China, which is made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, built originally in part to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces"
To read more about the wall, click : Great Wall of China
Even as we may go breathless at the sight of this magnificient stretch of wall, I could not help spare a few minutes to some wild thoughts. How many lives would have been sacrificed by the the autocratic rulers to build such a big wall?
The entire stretch of the wall runs through hard hilly terrains and reahing there with stones and other building materials would certainly have been extremely dangerous. Though it is hard to take the arguement that every greatness has some crimes behind it, in this case we have to take it, even if grudgingly.
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