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The Great Wall
Stone upon stone made the Great Wall
A song of the Great Wall
From then on the frontier remained strong;
From soldiers and horses went up a roar,
How desolate both sides of the wall are now.
The Great Wall, the longest man-made defence structure in China, is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its magnificence has deeply impressed anyone who has been there, as well as those who have simply heard about it. From Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu province at the west end to Shanhaiguan Pass on the shores of Bohai Bay at the east end, the Great Wall stretches for 4000 miles (6400km). From local measurements comes its name of the "10,000-li Long Wall." For several thousand years, it has witnessed the vicissitudes of China's northern frontier. In the past, soldiers stationed along the wall devoted their lives to warding off intruders from the north. Today, buffeted by the roaring winds that sweep over the wall, tourists may imagine themselves back in that ancient battlefield.
As the emperors of the Ming dynasty were fully aware of the military importance of defence structures, no effort was spared for over two hundred years under the dynasty in enhancing the wall. The superb workmanship, the scale of the project, and the faultless construction are incomparable in history. The Badaling section and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall are noted tourist attractions, while the section at Jinshanling Ridge has added lustre to it as well.
The Huanghuacheng section is under repair and will be opened to visitors. It snakes along the ridges, meeting a clear stream that cascades down the steep valley. Along the wall stand precipitous cliffs, and below lies the valley dotted with mosses, withered vines, and yellow flowers. It is enveloped in white clouds, and all this makes up the unique picture of the northern frontier. To climb the wall - the base of which is built of stones about 4 ft (1.2m) long and 2 ft (0.6m) thick - it is necessary to follow the broken stone steps and make a way through lush grass. At the top is a watchtower with five openings that command a panoramic view of peaks rising one upon another, with hawks circling against the clear sky and pale clouds. Viewed from a distance, the wall going up abruptly and going down the same way looks like a big inverted "V." It is the very spot to have a dialogue with nature.
Along the Huanghuacheng section there are stone tablets inscribed with the achievements of the former governor tan lun, who supervised the construction of great wall in the Ming dynasty, as well as the names of many well-known crafts men and artisans. They will live as long as the wall, which represents the indomitable of the Chinese nation.
Location
The nearly three-mile-long (4700m) Badaling section of the Great Wall is situated 37.5 miles (60km) northwest of Beijing, stretching from the Seventh Watchtower in the south to the Twelfth Watchtower in the north, with Wencheng as its centre.
Climate
This area enjoys hot summers, cold winters and a mild spring and fall (the golden season). The best months to visit are May, September, and October, although the air is rather dusty in spring.
Of Special Interest
The Badaling section, rebuilt in the mild Ming dynasty, is the best part of the Great Wall. It is on the World Heritage List.
Main Attractions
The Badaling section, the Mutianyu section, and the Simatai section.
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