Great Wall History

 

A brief history

 

The genesis of the Great Wall can dating back to the Warring Sttes period from 475 to 221 BC, when Chinese feudal kingdoms built earthen ramparts to defend against nomadic invaders. It was under the fierce emperor Qin Shihuang, who unified China in 221 BC that the Great Wall really began to take shape. He conscripted some 300,000 laborers to work for ten years on joining the various pre-existing sections into a single fortified wall. The suffering of the workers who toiled in freezing winters and scorching summers became legendary. As dynasty came into being and passed into history, the Great Wall was continuously repaired and extended.

 

The sections of the Great Wall near Beijing were renovated during the Ming dynasty, whose leaders spent a century strengthening and extending the Wall to the Yellow Sea. The previous ramparts, which were made of stones , packed earth and wood, were covered by Ming builders with bricks. They built crenellations to protect archers, widened the Wall so it could accommodate five horses abreast, and added many watchtowers. A system of beacons lit from tower to tower ensured that enemy troop movements were swiftly relayed to headquarters.

 

Despite such defensive features, the Great Wall failed in its purpose of keeping out invaders. It was breached several times, notably by the armies of Genghis Khan in 1215 and by Manchu troops in 1644. Conversely, the Great Wall was a tremendous success in forging a sense of nationhood since it marked the physical boundary between China and abroad, and the psychological boundary between civilization and chaos. Scaling forbidding landscapes of mountains and deserts, the Great Wall was also a triumph of the emperor's will over nature.

 

Must see

 

There are three major sections of the Great Wall open to tourists near Beijing: Badaling, Mutianyu and Simatai. All three are built on steep terrain so it's a good idea to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. This advice holds especially true when gong to the Simatai section or to the "Wild Wall" sections that haven't been restored.

 

The Great Wall Marathon
First started from 1999.   It has gradually become well known in China and the outside world.  1,748 people ran on the Great Wall in 2010, thousands of people are spectators, including families with small children.

 

History of the Great Wall Marathon

1999    2000    2001    2002    2003    2004    2005    2006    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011

 

Great Wall Marathon + China tour packages

5 days - Great Wall Marathon + Beijing tours
11 days - Great Wall Marathon and Classic China tour
12 days - Great Wall Marathon with Yangtze Cruise
16 days - Great Wall Marathon with Tibet Tour

 

Different sections of Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall    Mutianyu Great Wall    
Huangyaguan Great Wall    Jinshanling Great Wall   
Simatai Great Wall    Juyongguan Great Wall     
Jiayuguan Great Wall    Overhanging Great Wall    
Gubeikou Great Wall