| The Great Wall of China is not just an ordinary travel | | | | wall from Beijing because the sections of this part of |
| icon; besides the role it plays in China's tourism, it has | | | | the wall are very good for sightseeing and have |
| led to the development of China's long history and | | | | great features. Besides that, it affords them the |
| culture. People are curious to understand the facts of | | | | opportunity to see other historical attractions like the |
| how the great wall came about; however, it is not | | | | Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Tiananmen |
| until one visits this majestic structure, you can truly | | | | Square etc. |
| understand the significance of the great wall to China | | | | The most popular sections to visit and climb the |
| and the rest of the world. | | | | great wall in Beijing are the Badaling, Simatai, and |
| The origin of story of the great wall is unknown, but | | | | Mutianyu sections. |
| history shows that the construction of the wall | | | | Badaling section of the great wall is located 70 km |
| began in the early seventh century B.C and was | | | | away from the center of Beijing and is the most |
| made out of stone, wood, grass and earth. This was | | | | popular section to climb the wall in Beijing. It was the |
| when the earliest regional kingdom was built for the | | | | first part of the wall to be opened to tourists. History |
| defensive military needs. The purpose was to protect | | | | has it that Badaling section was built to protect the |
| the farming lands from the invasion of the tribes | | | | Juyongguan Pass, along which the Guan'gou gorge |
| from the north and to hold the natives from vacating | | | | and several interesting sites of interest are located. |
| the lands. Used as a military demarcation, there were | | | | This section of the Great Wall was made by huge |
| various watchtowers which stood at varying | | | | bar stones and paved with square bricks making the |
| distances from each other; these towers substituted | | | | wall pavement smoothly ordered. The Badaling |
| the time warning system used during the ancient | | | | section became a national cultural relic and a world |
| times. The fire and smoke signaled the day and night | | | | heritage listing by United Nations in 1987. |
| time respectively. Many of these watch towers still | | | | Simatai section in Beijing is a very remote and quiet |
| remain in their original position where they stood while | | | | section on the great wall. The ruins and untouched |
| some have been destroyed during the revolution. | | | | parts of this section is what helped Simatai section |
| Over the years, parts of the great wall was | | | | earn its reputation of being the unique section of the |
| destroyed and rebuilt and more sections were added. | | | | wall. There are features retained from over the |
| Due to this construction, it stretched so wide from | | | | years which were untouched and looks like what it |
| the east to the west bordering almost the entire | | | | used to be like over 500 years ago. This section of |
| country. At present, they say it measures about | | | | the wall has about twelve watch towers at different |
| 7300km from one end to the other. | | | | intervals and takes about 2hours to reach the |
| There are different sections to travel the wall, all of | | | | twelfth tower. Simatai section is great for adventure |
| which have different attractions and features. The | | | | hikers and trekkers. |
| sections also represent the roles played during the | | | | The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is located on |
| construction of the great wall. For adventure lovers, | | | | Huairou County northeast of Beijing. This section of |
| it would be a challenging task to travel the entire | | | | the wall is known for its unique quality of |
| length of the wall. The Great Wall Marathon and Half | | | | construction and features compared to other |
| Marathon is an annual marathon race which takes | | | | sections of the wall. It is known as the main essence |
| place every year in China. For runners and | | | | of the great wall because of the style which it was |
| adventures, this marathon is one of the experiences | | | | built. |
| of a lifetime as they run through 7km of the | | | | In Summary, traveling the great wall is one of the |
| incredible wall passing through beautiful countryside | | | | greatest experiences of a lifetime and it is difficult to |
| villages and mountain trails. | | | | understand its history until it is visited. It is assumed |
| For tourists on short stays in China, climbing the | | | | to be one of the top 100 things to do in this lifetime. |
| great wall from almost any part of northern china is | | | | For more information about China Travel, China Tour |
| possible, although, many travelers prefer to climb the | | | | Vacations, visit Passport to China. |