China's territory is vast. Besides beautiful natural scenery, China boasts unique human cultural scenery, which embodies the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese people.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall was a military defense project built in ancient China and is also a spiritual symbol of the unity of the Chinese people. It crosses mountains, runs through deserts, and stretches and undulates. It is the fruit of labor, sweat and blood, and embodies the wisdom of the ancient Chinese people.
The Great Wall was first built in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period around the 7th century BC. In 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China. In order to defend against the invasion of northern enemies, he ordered a large-scale connection and construction of the Great W all, which connected more than 5,000 kilometers of defensive walls over the years. Later, the dynasties of China changed constantly, and almost every dynasty built and renovated the Great Wall. Large-scale construction was carried out in the early Ming Dynasty and completed about 200 years later. Early construction of the Great Wall mostly used local materials, mostly made of sand and stone. Because of the long history and immature technology, much of the early walls had been weathered and collapsed. The section of the Great Wall from the Ming Dynasty is about 6,300 kilometers in length. The eastern part of the wall is mainly made of brick and stone. It runs from the Yalu River in the east to the Jiayuguan Pass in the west and traverses northern China.
The Great Wall is mostly built in high mountains and plains in dangerous zones. It consists of tall walls, trenches, beacon towers and passes. In war time, the guards would light fireworks on the Great Wall to convey the message of the enemy's invasion. In the post-war period of stability, the Great Wall took on the task of economic and cultural exchanges. Yumenguan (Jade Gate Pass) and other places have become important economic and cultural exchanges centers. Now, the Great Wall is seen in peopled eyes as a tourist attraction. Specifically, the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing is famous both at home and abroad.
The Chinese call the Great Wall athe Thousand-Mile Long Wair. In reality how long can the Great Wall be? On June 5, 2012, the State Administration of Cultural Relics announced at the Juyongguan Pass that the total length of the existing Great Wall in China is 21,196.18 kilometers, which is distributed among 15 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions of China. It is the longest and largest ancient defense project in China and even in the world today. In 1987, the Great Wall was inscribed in the World Heritage List.
Cultural Notes
Yumenguan (Jade Cate Pass)
Yumenguan is located in Gansu Province. It was built in the period when Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty opened the road to the Western Regions. It was named after the ancient transportation of jade through this place. More than 100 years before the calendar changed to A.D., when the Great Wall was still being built. Yumenguan was established which became an important pass on the Silk Road.
The Juyongguan Great Wall
The Juyongguan Great Wall is 6o kilometers away from Beijing, it is one of the important passes of the Great Wall and the gateway to Beijing from the north. Its terrain is dangerous, for it is built in a valley, but its scenery is magnificent.