Why are people so obsessed with this ancient fortress monument? Well, as someone who have taken a sightseeing tour of the Great Wall, I can sum it up in one word. The Great Wall of China is awesome!
I was awestruck by the spectacular scenery and its courageous history. This gigantic monument is considered by many people as one of the wonders of the world. Any tourist traveling to China must definitely make visit the Chinese tourist attraction.
The Great Wall of China is over 2,000 years old and it is a monument rich in history. It was first conceived and constructed by Qin Shi Huang or also known as Shi Huang Ti, who was the first emperor of China. The wall is called "Wan-Li Qang-Qeng" in Chinese when translated literally means 10,000 li long wall which is equivalent to about 5,000 km or 2,272 miles long.
The Great Wall Of China was constructed as a military fortification against intrusion by invading normadic ancient tribes. The Chinese people at that time called these tribes barbarians since the Chinese royalties were living in sprawling palaces and these tribes were living in tents.
After the emperor Qin unified China in 214 BC, he ordered the construction of the wall. It took more than a decade to construct and the great wall stretched from Lintao in the eastern part of Gansu province in the west to Liaodong in Jilin province in the east. The wall not only served as a defensive bastien against invaders in the northern parts of China, it is also a symbol of power for the proud emperor.
From the Qin Dynasty onwards, Xiongnu (translated from Chinese as fierce anger), which was an ancient tribe that roamed Northern China, frequently make incursions and plunder towns and villages along the northern border.
During the Han Dynasty in and around 121 BC, emperor Han Wu Di, ordered three military expeditions to repel and quash the Xiongnu tribe. The military expeditions successfully pushed the Xiongnu tribe into the far north of the Gobi desert, which is a tundra.
In order to secure the safety of the Hexi Corridor (now Gansu province), the emperor also ordered the construction of the extension of the Great Wall westward into the Hexi Corridor and Xinjiang region. The ruins of the tower beacons and debris of the Han Wall are still preserved in Dunhuang, Yumen and Yangguan districts and provinces. There is also a report that more ruins of the Han Wall have recently been discovered near Lopnur in Xinjiang province.
The present day Great Wall Of China in Beijing is mainly the remains from the Ming Dynasty era. During this golden era of Chinese culture, bricks and granite were used when the workers laid the foundation of the wall. Sophisticated designs and passes were also constructed in places of strategic military importance.
To further empower the military's control of China's northern frontiers, the Ming Dynasty government divided the Great Wall into nine zones and placed each zone under the command and control of a Zhen, which is a military garrison headquarter.
The Ming Wall begins at Yalujiang River in what is now in Heilongjiang province, through Liaoning, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia provinces, to Gansu reaching a length of about 12,700 li (about 5,200 km or 2,400 miles).
Although The Great Wall served succeeding dynasties very well for a few hundred years as a defence bastion against invading forces, the invaders from the north in the end were able to advance and conquer China in succeeding dynasties such as Mongolians (Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368) and the Manchus (Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911) did.
With such splendidly rich history and panoramic views, is it any wonder why the Great Wall Of China is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the world?
The Great Wall of China was built as a fortification against invading Mongol tribes. One of the largest man-made structure, it is said to be discernable from space. It certainly is a big tourist attraction.
In reality the Great Wall is not a continuous wall but a collection of shorter walls going up and down the crest of hills bordering southern Mongolian plains. Overall the wall runs about 2400 km. The first set of walls was made of earth and stones in wood frames during the Qin Dynasty in 221-206 BCE.
Western world found the Great Wall a telling human achievement and growing contacts with China from 17th century onwards turned it into a fascinating tourism spot. With tourism came restoration and
rebuilding that continues on and off. In 1987 the Great Wall of China was made a World Heritage Site.
Visitors book hotels in Beijing to tour the Great Wall. Foreign tourists are often offered customized tour packages convenient for staying and touring the Great Wall. Many international and local 5-star hotels offer comfortable lodging with extensive amenities and entertainment facilities.
The Great Wall has become one of the top tourist spots in China that regularly draws in many visitors. Finding a place to stay during your visit should not be a problem as there are many fine hotel accommodations around the Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall of China has never failed to impress many tourists and guests with its grandeur and historical value. The Great wall covers 5,500 miles from east to west of China and has been a great part of China’s history for more than 2,000 years.
Today, the Great Wall of China has become more than just China’s historical witness, it is now among the most amazing structures man has every created.
Sheraton Hotel – This hotel is a world renowned hotel with top facilities and huge accommodation capacity. It is located at 10 North Dong San Huan Road, Chaoyang District Beijing, China.
Sheraton Hotel has 827 well-appointed guest rooms, 98 of which are suites. Standard guest rooms are provided with air-conditioning units, telephones, Cable televisions, high speed Internet, full kitchen, a mini bar, deluxe bath amenities, voicemail and free daily news paper. The hotel also offers accessible rooms for guests with disabilities.
Commune by the Great Wall - Commune by the Great Wall is a modern designed hotel. It is located at Badaling Highway, Juyongguan, China. It is a statement of the present and past beauties of the region, having both a modern hotel and amazing view of the Great Wall of China. The hotel’s ease of access on Badaling Highway is the main reason why most guests prefer this hotel over other hotels.
In-pair with the over all modernized Commune ambiance, beautiful rooms loaded with modern amenities are offered in this place. Basic room package has air-conditioning units, telephones, hairdryers, cable satellite/TVs and a mini bar. There is more to this Great Wall hotel, they also have baby sitting services, a fitness center, laundry facilities, and parking spaces.
Red Capital Ranch - Red Capital Ranch is an amazing vintage hotel beside the Great Wall of China. It is conveniently located at NO.28 Xiaguandi Village, Yanxi Township Huairou District. The location was once the hunting grounds of the Qing emperors.
Red Capital Ranch is composed of 10 stone cottages, a Tibetan spa, and a conventional teahouse. Every room is furnished with many artifacts from China and Tibet. Extra beds are provided for the children but the place is mostly ideal for a couple’s romantic get away. Pets are welcome – the ranch has its own local dogs.
Wi-Fi Internet access is made available at the lobby. Check-in time is at 2:00 PM and Check-out time is usually in the middle of the day.
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