The Great Wall is actually a joint name of a huge military engineering in ancient China. It is built to protect the northern emperors' reign of different dynasties from being invaded by the hordes in the north frontier. It is one of the greatest miracles created by the people of old China and was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1987. It is also one of China's symbols besides Tian An Men and Terracotta Warriors. Some astronauts even told it could be visible from the moon by the naked eyes though with a lot of disputes. Anyway, it can state that the Great Wall is indeed a mighty work and rear achievement in the world.
It stretches from Shanhai Pass in the east in Hebei Province to the Jiayu Pass in the west in Gansu Province, through 10 provinces, regions and cities, 8851.8km's long. It can be divided into several sections with many passes and beacon towers built in the steepest part of the mountains. Although it is constructed and extended by many dynasties, most of the series of the wall disappeared due to the sandstorm erosion of so many years and the Great Wall referred now by people is the wall built by Ming Dynasty which is better preserved currently.
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| Great Wall at Simatai Section |
Best Known Sections
Most notable areas of the Great Wall are in Beijing City and it is one of the must destinations favored by Beijing tourists. The slogan says that he who doest not reach the Great Wall is not a true man.
Badaling
Located in Yanqing Country, Badaling section is the north pass of Juyong Pass with elevation of 1015m. It is the most representative area of Ming Great Wall and the essential military barrier of capital Beijing. It is the essence of the whole Great Wall and it would be a magnificent view by overlooking the mountains, winding up and down. More than 300 celebrities have visited here such as President Nixon, Lady Thatcher.
Mutianyu
The former prime minister of Great Britain Meijer and the former American president Clinton has been to this section. Mutianyu is situated in Huairou district and is another essence of the Great Wall. It characterizes by the crenels on both sides of the wall and also the distinguished small sections with particular shapes or metaphors for the cliffy conditions such as the Arrow Nock part, Bulls Horn Ridge part and "Eagle Flying Belly up" part.
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| Great Wall at Mutianyu Section |
Simatai
Its exquisiteness design makes this section outstanding and Simatai area was listed in the World Heritage List. It is 5.4km' long and located in Miyun Country.
Jinshanling
It is 10.5km in length situated in Miyun Country. The watchtowers here are very dense with generally one every 50-100m and there are also 2 beacon towers and 5 passes. The wall is made of big rocks, 5-8 meters' high and designed in different military functions, for example, the horse stopped wall, the barrier wall.
Shanhaiguan
It is the part of Great Wall that meets the sea, 26km long, of which Old Head of Dragon division is ever reputed as the soul of China. Shanhaiguan acropolis is formed by 7 castles and all around them are walls of 4769 m in length, 11.6 m in height and 10 m in thickness. The wall body is overwhelming. There are four gates respectively in the west, north, south and east and in the center of the town lies the grand Bell and Drum Tower.
Juyongguan
Juyongguan Great Wall is the nearest section of the Great Wall to Beijing. JuYongGuan is one of the three greatest passes of the Great Wall of China. There is a temple and other attractions close by. JuYongGuan Great Wall also features some life-size Terracotta Warriors. Because there are lush flowers and trees around the JuYongGuan Pass, like layers of green, it has received the name of 'Juyong Green Layers', which is famous as one of the 'YanJing Eight Best Sceneries'.
Entrance fees:
Badaling: April 1-October 31:45RMB
November 1- March 31: 35RMB
Juyongguan: April 1-October 31: 45RMB
November 1- March 31: 40RMB
Jinshanling: March 16-November 15: 50RMB
November 16- March 15: 40RMB
Simatai: All-year: 40RMB
Mutianyu: April 1-October 31: 45RMB
November 1- March 31: 40RMB
Shanhaiguan: All-year: 40RMB
