Great Chinese Wall stretched across the northern regions of the People's Republic of China, through the territories of 17 provinces: from Liaoning to Qinghai.

Including all branches measured in 2008, the length of the Great Wall of China in state of the art reaches 8850 - 8851.9 km (5500 miles).

According to archaeological research, the results of which were made public in 2012, the historical length of the Great Wall of China is 21,196 km (13,170.7 miles).

The measurement of the monument is complicated by the fact that some historical sites have a complex shape, are separated by natural landscape barriers, or have been partially or completely eroded, dismantled by local residents.

The history of the construction of the Great Wall of China

The construction of the Great Wall of China began in the 3rd century BC. e. - in the period of the Warring (Warring) kingdoms (475-221 BC) to protect against nomads. At the same time, the technology of erecting fortifications was used earlier - in the VIII-V centuries BC. e.

The population of the kingdoms of Qin, Wei, Yan, Zhao participated in the construction of the northern defensive walls; in total, about a million people were involved in the work. The first built sections were adobe and even earth-beaten - local materials were pressed. For creating common wall united and early defensive sites between the kingdoms.

In the first centralized state under Emperor Qin Shi Huang (from 221 BC), the early sections were fortified, completed, the single wall was lengthened, and the walls between the former kingdoms were demolished: all forces were directed to create a continuous fortification along the Yinshan mountain range to protect against raids. At that time, the total number of mobilized wall builders reached almost 2 million, due to harsh working conditions and poor infrastructure, the death rate was rising. The builders of that time continued to use primitive pressed materials and sun-dried bricks. In some rare areas, mostly in the east, stone slabs were also laid for the first time.

The height of the wall with such a heterogeneous landscape of the area also differed in its different segments. On average, the fortifications rose by 7.5 m, taking into account the rectangular battlements - about 9 m, the width was 5.5 m at the bottom and 4.5 m at the top. Integral part the walls became towers - built at the same time at an arrow distance from each other (about 200 meters) and early ones included in the wall in random order. Signal towers, towers with loopholes and 12 gates were also provided in the grandiose fortress wall.

During the Han Dynasty (206 BC - III century AD), the Great Wall of China was extended west to Dunhuang. According to archaeologists, during this period, about 10,000 km of fortifications were restored and built, which included new watchtowers in the desert area, where trade caravans were required to be protected from nomads.

The next described in historical sources the period of construction of the wall - the XII century, the ruling dynasty - Jin. However, the sections built at this time were mainly located north of the early wall, within the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia and in the territory of the modern country of Mongolia.

The surviving Great Wall of China was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). For the construction of fortifications, durable stone blocks and bricks were used, as binder composition- a mixture of rice porridge with slaked lime. During the long reign of the Ming, the fortress wall stretched from east to west from the Shanhaiguan outpost on the shore of the Bohai Bay to the Yumenguan outpost, located on the modern border of Gansu Province and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Okrug. These strongholds from the sea to the desert are now designated as the beginning and end of the Great Wall of China.

Interesting facts about the Great Wall of China

• Badaling tourist site since 1957 has been visited by more than 300 statesmen from different countries peace. The first of the foreigners was the revolutionary Klim Voroshilov.
• Since 1999, The Great Wall Marathon has become an annual marathon on the equipped section of the wall. It is attended by 2500 athletes from more than 60 countries of the world.
• The visual distinction of the Great Wall of China from space is a common myth. The misconception that the wall can be seen from the Moon with the naked eye has now been refuted. Visibility from earth orbit has not yet been confirmed, photographs of the Great Wall of China from space cannot serve as evidence, since the resolution of the cameras used is higher than the capabilities visual system person.

Sections of the Great Wall of China

For tourists, only a small part of the Great Wall of China is equipped and permanently available. Restored sites near Beijing are designed for mass tourism.

Badaling

The Badaling site was built during the Ming Dynasty and comprehensively restored under Mao Zedong. This is the first section of the Great Wall of China open to the public. The length is about 50 km. Thus, tourism in Badaling has been developing since 1957, and now it is a well-known and most visited site, also due to its location - just 70 km from Beijing, connected to the capital by bus and train express trains.

Entrance fee: 45 CNY from April to October, 40 CNY from November to March.

Opening hours: from 6:40 to 18:30.

Mutianyu

This is the second closest to Beijing (about 80 km from the city center) and also a very popular section of the Great Wall of China, the length is 2.2 km. Mutianyu is located outside the Huaizhou district, connected to Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi in the east. The foundation of this section is older than Badaling: the first wall was built in the 6th century under the Northern Qi, the wall of the Ming Dynasty was built on the preserved foundation. In 1569, Mutianyu was restored, the site has been perfectly preserved to this day, it is located in a picturesque environment of forests and streams. Another feature of Mutianyu is a large number of stair areas.

Entrance fee - 40 CNY, for seniors over 60 years old and children 1.2-1.4 m tall - 20 CNY. Children under 1.2 m - free of charge.

Opening hours: the second half of March - mid-November from 7:30 to 18:00 (on weekends - until 18:30), other days of the year - from 8:00 to 17:00.

Simatai

The 5.4 km section of Simatai is located 145 km from the center of Beijing. In the western part of this segment, 20 watchtowers are well preserved. East wall characterized by a steep slope, due to rugged terrain with rocks. Total towers in Simatai - 35.

Simatai has fewer restoration replicas, but the route is more difficult. Of particular interest are the towers; Heavenly bridge - a section up to 40 cm wide; Heavenly Ladder - climb at an angle of 85 degrees. The most extreme areas are closed to tourists.

Entrance fee - 40 CNY for an adult, 20 CNY for a child with a height of 1.2 - 1.5 m. Free - for children under 1.2 m.

Opening hours (day and evening shifts): April-October - from 8:00 to 18:00 and from 18:00 to 22:00; November - March - from 8:00 to 17:30 and from 17:30 to 21:00 (on weekends - until 21:30).

Gubeikou

Mostly "wild" and not restored section of the wall in the Gubeikou area, 146-150 km from Beijing. It was built during the Ming Dynasty on the foundation of an ancient wall of the 6th century, has not been rebuilt since the 16th century, has retained its authentic appearance, although not as impressive as on Simatai and Jinshalin.

The wall in this area is divided by the city of Gubeikou into two parts - Wohushan (4.8 km, the main attraction is the "Sister Towers") and Panlongshan (about 5 km, the "24-eyed tower" is noteworthy - with 24 observation holes).

Entrance fee - 25 CNY.

Opening hours: from 8:10 to 18:00.

Jinshalin

Located in the mountainous area of ​​Luanping County, 156 km from the center of Beijing by road. Jinshalin is connected to Simatai in the east and Mutianyu in the west.

The length of the Jinshalin wall is 10.5 kilometers, it includes 67 towers and 3 signal towers.

The initial section of the wall has been restored, but its general state close to natural, gradually deteriorating.

Entrance fee: from April to October - 65 CNY, from November to March - 55 CNY.

Huanghuachen

Huanghuachen is the only lakeside part of the Great Wall of China in the vicinity of Beijing. The distance from the city center is about 80 km. This is an interesting hiking route, especially picturesque in summer. The wall at Haoming Lake was built from 1404 for 188 years. Now this segment reaches 12.4 km, in some places the stone masonry segments of the wall are submerged in water.

Entrance fee - 45 CNY. Children up to 1.2 m - free of charge.

Opening hours: from April to October on weekdays - from 8:30 to 17:00; on the weekends of May 1-7 and October 1-7 - from 8:00 to 18:00; from November to March - from 8:30 to 16:30.

Juanya Pass

Huanyaguan, or Huangya Pass, built along the mountains, stretching for 42 km from General Pass in Beijing to Malan Pass in Hebei, originally included 52 watchtowers and 14 signal towers. However, due to the lack of repair, most of this wall has been destroyed. Since 2014, about 3 km of the structure and 20 towers have been restored. Attractions include the Widow's Tower, an ancient part of the Northern Qi Dynasty wall at the end of the Chania Sky stairs, and the Great Wall Museum.

The distance to Huanyagang from the center of Beijing is about 120 km.

Entrance fee - 50 CNY. Children up to 1.2 m - free of charge.

Open for tourists from 7:30 to 18:30.

shanhaiguan

The iconic part of the wall: it is here that one of its ends is located - the "Dragon's Head", leaving for the Yellow Sea. It is located 15 km from Qinhuangdao and 305 km from Beijing.

The plan of the Shanhaiguan fortress is in the form of a square with a perimeter of about 7 km (4.5 mi) with a gate on each side. The eastern wall was the main line of defense of the pass, known as the "First Pass under the Sky".

Entrance to the Old City in the fortress, the Museum of the Great Wall of China is free. "First pass under the sky" - 40 CNY in summer, 15 CNY in winter.

Opening hours - from 7:00 to 18:00 during the period May - October, from 7:30 to 17:00 from November to April. The museum is open from 8:00 to 17:00.

Purple marble wall sections

Fortifications made of purple marble as part of the Great Wall of China are considered the most durable and beautiful. They were built from marble mined in local deposits. Two sites are located near the city of Jiang'an, another one is in the Yanyshan mountains. It is hardly possible to check the information in practice: the listed walls are closed for mass tourism.

How to get to the Great Wall of China

The most accessible area in terms of transport is Badaling. However, you can also get to other surviving parts of the Great Wall of China on your own.

How to get to the Great Wall of China from Beijing

From Beijing to Badaling get there by transport:

• bus No. 877 (express from Deshengmen stop, 12 CNY);
• public bus number 919 (it takes longer, with stops, you need to check whether it will take you to Badaling;
• by S2 train from Huangtudian station, then by free bus to Badaling cable car station;
• by special tourist buses: from stops Qianmen, East Bridge, Xizhimen Gate, Beijing railway station.

From Beijing Airport to the Great Wall of China(Badalina) you can get there with a transfer (metro / bus + bus or metro / bus + train) or using a transfer - such offers are enough for both groups and individual travelers.

Transport to the wall Mutianyu from Beijing (with transfer):

• from Dongzhimen station by bus No. 916 (express or regular) to Huairou North Avenue (Huairou Beidajie);
• transfer to the transfer bus h23, h24, h35, or h36 to Mutianyu.

Transport from Beijing to the Wall Simatai(with 1 transfer):

• Bus No. 980 / 980 Express (respectively 15 / 17 CNY) from Dongzhimen to Miyun Bus Station;
• then - by bus Mi 37, Mi 50 or Mi 51 (8 CNY) to Simatai village.

To get to Gubeikou From Beijing, you need to take the No. 980 express bus from Dongzhimen to Miyun Bus Station, then take the Mi 25 bus to your destination.

Jinshalin from Beijing:

• by metro (line 13 or 15) to West Wangjing, then by tourist bus to the destination (departs at 8:00 and returns at 15:00, fare 32 CNY); relevant only in the season from April to November 15;
• from Dongzhimen by bus number 980 to Miyun County, then on your own (with a companion, by rental car, taxi) to Jinshalin.

Huanyaguan from Beijing:

• by intercity bus to Jizhou (30-40 CNY), then by local charter minibus to Hanyaguang (25-30 CNY);
• train to Jizhou from Beijing East Railway Station (14.5 CNY), then by charter minibus.

Transport from Beijing to the Great Wall of China on site Huanghuachen:

• from Dongzhimen by special tour bus during the peak season from April to October (weekends and public holidays). You need to purchase a round-trip ticket - Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall for 80 CNY;
Beijing Badaling

Great Wall of China HD video

The Great Wall of China - one of the most grandiose structures of all times and peoples - has become a symbol of China, which literally all civilized people have heard of.

The eighth wonder of the world, the longest in the world, “Wan li chang cheng” (“Wall of ten thousand li”) - so in different times called the Great Wall. And although the last name suggests the real size of the ancient Chinese wall (1 li is equal to 576 m), different sources name different numbers. According to some assumptions, its length does not exceed 4 thousand kilometers, according to others - it is more than 5 thousand kilometers. The average height of the wall is 6.6 m (in some sections up to 10 m), the width of the lower part is about 6.5 m, the upper part is about 5.5 m. This width allowed two horse-drawn carts to pass. Throughout the Great Wall of China, casemates for protection and watchtowers were built, and fortresses were built at the main mountain passes.

The construction of the first wall began in the 3rd century BC. e. during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi-huangdi (Qin dynasty), during the period of the Warring States (475-221 BC) to protect the state from the raids of the nomadic Xiongnu people. One fifth of the then population of the country, i.e., about a million people, took part in the construction.
The wall was supposed to serve as the extreme northern line of the possible expansion of the Chinese themselves, it was supposed to protect the subjects of the “Middle Empire” from switching to a semi-nomadic way of life, from merging with the barbarians. The wall was supposed to clearly fix the boundaries of Chinese civilization, contribute to the consolidation of a single empire, just made up of a number of conquered kingdoms.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), the wall was extended west to Dunhuang. A line of watchtowers was also built, going deep into the desert, to protect trade caravans from nomadic raids. Those sections of the Great Wall that have survived to our time were built mainly during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During this era, the main building materials there were brick and stone blocks that made the construction more reliable. During the reign of the Ming, the Wall stretched from east to west from the Shanhaiguan gate on the shores of the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea to the Yumenguan gate at the junction of modern Gansu provinces and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The Great Wall of China was built with such skill and durability that it still stands today. And this is the only man-made structure on our planet, which is visible even from space. The Chinese wall stretches along cities, through deserts, valleys, deep gorges - through the whole of modern China. When it was built, it turned the country to the south into a huge, well-defended fortress.

But neither Great Wall, nor the cruelty of rule did not help the Qin dynasty. A few years after the death of the first Chinese emperor, the Qin dynasty was overthrown.

However, the state experience of the Qin Empire was developed and multiplied by the new Han Empire, which was formed at the end of the 3rd century BC. e. and lasted over four hundred years. In the Han Empire, the Chinese fully realized themselves as one people, and today they call themselves Han.

Destruction and restoration of the wall

The Manchurian Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), having overcome the Wall with the help of the betrayal of Wu Sangui, treated the Wall with disdain. During the three centuries of Qing rule, the Great Wall almost collapsed under the influence of time. Only a small part of it near Beijing - Badaling - was maintained in order - it served as a kind of "gateway to the capital". In 1899, American newspapers started a rumor that the wall would be completely demolished and a highway built in its place.
In 1984, at the initiative of Deng Xiaoping, a program was launched to restore the Great Wall of China, funded by Chinese and foreign companies, as well as individuals.
It is reported that a 60-kilometer section of the wall in the Minging region of Shanxi region in the northwest of the country is undergoing active erosion. The reason is intensive methods of management Agriculture in China since the 1950s, which led to the drying up of groundwater, and as a result, this region has become the main source and center of powerful sandstorms. More than 40 km of the wall has already disappeared, and only 10 km are still in place, but the height of the wall in some places has decreased from five to two meters.

Today, the Great Wall of China attracts tourists from all over the world. No description of the Chinese capital can do without mentioning it. The Chinese claim that the history of this wall is half of the history of China and one cannot understand China without visiting the wall. According to scientists, if all the materials used in the construction of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty were folded into a wall with a thickness of one and a height of five meters, then its length would be enough to encircle the globe. If we also deal with all the materials used by the Qin, Han and Ming dynasties, then such an impromptu “wall” can encircle the earth more than 10 times.

Secrets of the Great Wall of China

This building is rightfully considered the greatest achievement of world civilization. The Great Wall of China is truly unique, and the mysteries of this monumental man-made structure are innumerable. The “stone belt” of the Celestial Empire still surprises researchers, and many questions remain unanswered. Some versions, assumptions, hypotheses. Here is one of them. Let's make a reservation that this is only a timid attempt to unravel the mystery.

The idea of ​​a great tyrant
The first thing that immediately baffles is the practical significance of the Great Wall of China. Because people just don't do anything. Indeed, who would come up with the crazy idea to invest titanic labor and astronomical means in the creation of an unnecessary structure? Historically, there was a version that during the period of unification of disparate, eternally warring and warring ancient Chinese principalities under the rule of a single bogdykhan (emperor), it became necessary to strengthen the borders of the new state. Protect the northern borders of the empire from the nomads gaining strength. Only under this condition, the rulers thought, it was possible to effectively reform the empire.
It was decided to self-isolate from the outside world. From the east, south and west, Ancient China is fenced off from its neighbors by natural barriers: mountains, deserts, seas. The north of the state remained uncovered. The very idea of ​​building a wall belonged to the greatest reformer and tyrant, the sovereign Shi-Huangdi of the Qin dynasty. The project, even on paper, was grandiose and impressive in scope. The total length of the wall fortification was to be more than six thousand kilometers. Mind unbelievable!

No labor shortage
The colossal wall was built by millions of people. But to consider them slaves is also not true. Qualified craftsmen and architects were needed. After all, it was supposed to build for millennia. In those distant times, serving the ruler was perceived by ordinary people as sacred and honorable duty. Mortals meekly went to work to pay tribute to the anointed of the Lord. Encouragement and incentive? Gratitude from the heavenly powers and the divine emperor! Tens of thousands of people were ready to lay down their bones for the hardest work.
According to the project, at a distance of about seven meters from each other, two main bearing walls slightly thick less than a meter sandstone hard rock. The resulting gap was covered with soil with clay and carefully compacted to a state close to a monolith. At the top there was a jagged curb, which served as a shelter for the defenders of the wall. The width is such that six heavily armed horsemen can freely ride on the wall. At regular intervals of 1 li (about half a kilometer), the wall is interrupted by a massive watchtower (<костром>), which protected the gates of the through passage.
The name of the tower speaks for itself. At night, the guards built a large fire on it, which served as a beacon. In case of danger, it was hastily extinguished, which was a signal for nearby garrisons and alarm guards. They immediately rushed to protect the object from enemies. But it is strange: other peoples also had such a danger warning system - they lit fires only to signal an alarm. The Chinese did the opposite. Why? Let's look at the wall line. If the defensive structure is designed to protect the empire from enemies, then why was the construction not completed? Logically, the wall should run from the very coast of the East China Sea to the remote spurs of Tibet. In this case, its functionality is clear and justified. One end, indeed, bears this load, but the other leaves an impressive many kilometers of passage uncovered. What's this? Long-term construction due to lack of funds and forces? Weird. And it doesn’t look like hardworking God-fearing Chinese. And even more so for ambitious ancient tyrants. After all, the construction is intended to perpetuate Qin Shi Huangdi, and not to disgrace him before future generations. If the main part of the stone giant had already been erected, then they could have pulled themselves together. The gap, by the way, was often used by numerous invaders to invade Inner China. What kind of defensive function is this? Apparently it's something else. But where is the answer to this question?

Higher Mathematics of the Ancient Chinese
Meanwhile, Emperor Qin Shi-Huangdi, during the construction, constantly conferred with astrologers and consulted with soothsayers. According to legend, the glory of the sovereign and the eternity of the defensive line could bring a terrible sacrifice - the burial of a million people in the compacted soil filler. These nameless builders stood on the eternal guard of the borders of the Celestial Empire. Their bodies were buried in an upright position. If you believe the statements about the materiality of the human soul and its periodic return to the place of burial of a mortal body, one can imagine what a powerful energy force is sometimes concentrated in this place.
Researchers of anomalous phenomena tend to consider the millionth burial as nothing more than a power battery of colossal size and capacity. If so, what should it energize? Mathematical calculations showed that the ancient Chinese must have known integral and differential calculus. But even in the Middle Ages they did not possess such knowledge. And large-scale work began in the 220s BC. Chinese scientists, of course, worked with irrational numbers and infinitesimal values. Might as well know the rules<золотого сечения>. But for such a grandiose project and its implementation, this is not enough. There were no aerial photographs at that time, there were no accurate maps of the earth's surface either, there was no talk of geodesy. Who, then, advised the ancient architects and builders? Who was the author of the project and a consultant at a huge construction site? Modern researchers suggest the participation of outsiders in grandiose works. Who they were, one can only guess, but it seems that they were not Earthlings. All the ancient civilizations studied to date did not have the fullness of knowledge that would allow designing the Great Wall of China. Perhaps they were representatives of some dead, not yet discovered modern science cultures. It is possible that they could be extraterrestrial aliens or terrestrial heirs (survived?) of aliens: the Great Wall of China is the only man-made terrestrial object that is clearly visible from space. She follows a strictly defined line. It was believed that it meanders, and does not stretch in a straight line due to the features of the relief or differences in the density of the surface soil. But if you look closely, you can find that even in flat areas it winds. This means that natural disturbances have nothing to do with it, and there is a different practical meaning.
The imposition of the well-known geographic grid of parallels and meridians on the map of the wall shows that it almost exactly repeats the thirtieth parallel. This is all the more strange because the line is purely conditional. Although it is this conditional line that is a kind of equator that equally divides the earth's land. The equator itself divides the earth's surface. Try to divide the Eurasian continent in half right on the map, and: a straight line will not work. Perhaps that is why the Great Wall of China winds. It is also known that the axis of rotation of our planet changes its angle over time. Recent calculations have restored the position of the 30th parallel 2200 years ago and the approximate configuration of the continent. So - in those distant times, the wall went almost along the parallel. Hence one of its traditional names -<Золотая середина империи>. The golden mean is a certain optimum, a zero mark, a line of harmony. Question: did the Chinese sovereigns threaten to own all the land? Try to move further from the wall, along the 30th parallel, and you will first stumble upon Pyramids of Egypt and then to the Bermuda Triangle. Isn't it a strange coincidence? But that's not all! Adjusted for the constant seismic movement of the earth's firmament, we will run into another mystery. All three super-mysterious objects are equidistant from each other! What is it, is it just a coincidence? Does not look like it.

Intergalactic Communications Complex
It is known that any physical body has a certain electrical potential. Scientists from scientific fields related to physics investigated the known anomalous places of our planet. The earth has a permanent electrical charge. The Great Wall of China is located not just anywhere, but at the point of outflow of potential to the north and south. According to the laws of electrodynamics, the movement of the Earth around the Sun generates an electromagnetic wave, the phase velocity of which is much greater than the speed of light. These are sufficient conditions for establishing communication with space. Isn't this the reason for such a strange design and configuration of the wall? External walls can be used as a two-wire communication line. A signal was supposedly launched through them, which interfered with the natural electromagnetic field of the Earth and changed its structure. Please, the information has been sent! A tempting hypothesis. Now the version about the purpose of the pyramids of Giza as a receiving complex for intergalactic communications fits neatly into it. Moreover, both objects are still in good condition and do not require repairs. That is - the equipment is in full readiness! According to the assumptions of scientists, there may be transceiver complexes on the planets closest to us. The most suitable place for him in solar system- Mars. It also appears to be in good condition. It is possible that the terrestrial radio station is actively used today from space. It is a pity that so far without our participation.

Great Wall of China (China) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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It is difficult to find a larger creation of human hands than the Great Wall of China. It is possible to single out perhaps the Egyptian pyramids. And if the structures in the Giza Valley are mainly concentrated in one place, then the wall, like a giant dragon, runs over deserts, fields, mountains and plateaus, stretching for more than 20,000 km from east to west of China. Despite the almost zero effectiveness in protecting against invaders, it still became a symbol of the country's power, a kind of barrier between the Celestial Empire and the rest of the world. Today, millions of tourists annually strive to see this symbol, a significant part of which are residents of China, who believe that if a person has never been on the wall, he cannot be a real Chinese.

A bit of history

The Great Wall of China was not built overnight. This is the result of the work of many states that existed on the territory of modern China. It was erected in the 7th century by the rulers of the state of Chu, and completed in 1878 by the rulers of the Qing empire. The main part of the structure was built 600 years ago. Until the 1980s, the wall was practically not repaired, and only the Badaling segment was in a more or less intact state. But thanks to a large-scale restoration program, the structure was saved, although many sections are still in a dilapidated state.

There is an urban legend that the Great Wall of China can be seen from space. Actually, this is not entirely true. The wall is really impressive, but first of all for its length. Its width is relatively small, and visual acuity is simply not enough to see it. But you can still see the wall in a high-quality photograph. She looks like him but thin broken hair.

What to see

The Great Wall is not a solid structure. Over the 2700 years of its existence, many of its sections have turned into ruins, or even been completely dismantled. Therefore, a trip to certain segments is implied, most often completely restored, located near large cities with a developed tourist infrastructure.

Mutianyu is the most "sleek" 73-kilometer section, located 2 hours from Beijing. The meticulously restored wall with many watchtowers is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges. There are not as many people here as in other segments, so if time permits, it is better to go here. According to many tourists, the architecture here is more interesting than on the super popular Badaling site.

Badaling is often overcrowded - this is "thanks" to a short distance from Beijing (80 km), developed infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, funicular) and, of course, beautiful scenery.

Symatai is one of the few segments that has retained the original appearance 14th century. On the bricks of which the wall is composed, the date when they were laid and the number of the military unit involved in the construction are indicated. This is the only area open in the evening.

A feature of the Jinshanling segment is a well-preserved defensive system with loopholes, clock towers, gates and firing points.

Practical information

The most popular sections of the wall are located in relative proximity to Beijing. Here's how to get to them.

Mutianyu. Take the subway directly from the airport and go to Dongzhimen Station. From there, on weekends at 7:00 and 8:30, bus number 867 leaves for the wall. It spends 2-2.5 hours on the road and leaves back for Beijing at 14:00 and 16:00.

Badaling. Bus No. 877 to Badaling departs from Deshengmen Capital Bus Station from 6:00. You can also get here on the Beijing Tourist Hub tourist bus, plying from the southern tip of Tiananmen Square. The ticket costs 100 CNY, children under 120 cm tall travel free of charge.

Symatai. From Beijing Dongzhimen Station, take Bus No. 980 to Miyun City and then take a taxi to the wall (180 CNY round trip). The total travel time is 2 hours.

Jinshanling. Take the subway to Dongzhimen Station. A tourist bus leaves from there to the wall at 8:00. From Jinshanling it departs at 15:00. Ticket 50 CNY, travel time 2 hours. Prices on the page are for August 2018.

The Great Wall of China (220 BC - 1368 - 1644 AD) is a symbol of China, one of the most beautiful and grandiose structures of all times and peoples. This is the largest creation of human hands in world history and is the only structure of such a huge scale in the whole world. The Wall of China is the only man-made structure in the world that can be seen from space with the naked eye.

The history of the Chinese wall began in the 3rd century BC, during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi - the Qin Dynasty (475-221 BC). The wall began to be erected during the Warring States period. At that time, the Celestial Empire was in great need of protection from the attacks of enemies, including the nomadic people - the Xiongnu. A fifth of the Chinese population was involved in the construction of the wall, at that time it was about a million people. The Chinese landmark was to become a planned Chinese habitat, the extreme northern point of the country, and protect the subjects of the Chinese Empire from assimilation with the barbarians. The inhabitants of East Asia planned to precisely mark the boundaries of their civilization, since the Chinese state had just begun to form from many conquered states, to contribute to the unification of the Chinese empire into one whole.

The eighth wonder of the world - the Chinese wall - "Wan li chang cheng" - the longest in the world. The length of the wall is even - 8,852 kilometers. The height of the Chinese wall is about 7 m, but in some sections its height reaches 10 meters, the width of the wall at the base from the ground is about 6.5 m, and its upper part is about 5.5 m. two horse-drawn carts could pass easily. Fortresses were built near the main mountain passes, and along the entire length of the Chinese wall, watchtowers were built to protect casemates. And from the highest points of the wall, you can admire a breathtaking panorama.

The wall was built skillfully and with such a margin of safety that it has survived to this day. The Great Wall stretches across all modern China, along cities, through deep gorges, deserts, valleys. When the wall was completed, the country, located to the south, turned into a well-defended, huge fortress. But neither the wall nor the cruel ruler could help the Qin dynasty. After the death of the first emperor of China, a few years later the Qin dynasty was overthrown.

And a new dynasty entered the reign - the Han Empire, which was formed at the end of the 3rd century BC. e. and ruled over China for over four hundred years. At that time, the Chinese people realized themselves as a single whole, today some Chinese call themselves “Han”. The Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) extended the wall to the west as far as Dunhuang. Also, to protect against the attack of nomads - trade caravans, they built a line of watchtowers that went into the desert. The sections of the wall that have survived to this day were mainly built during the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

The Great Wall is not only a symbol of a united China, but is also the longest cemetery in the world, a wall of tears and suffering. This is because about a million people were rounded up to build the wall. It was built mainly by forced peasants, convicts, slaves, and soldiers - almost the entire population of the country worked. During the construction of the current eighth wonder of the world, there is no count of the Chinese who died there, because it was built for about fifteen centuries. The bodies of all the dead were walled up in the foundation of the wall. In order for their souls to also protect the borders of China from the attacks of enemies, and from the demons of the northern peoples. According to legend, the construction of such a large-scale fortification caused fury among the spirits.

The Great Wall of China today attracts tourists from all over the world, every day. All legends, historical facts and even fairy tales cannot do without mentioning the wall. The Chinese people claim that the history of this wall is half of the history of China and it is impossible to understand China without visiting the wall. According to the miscalculations of scientists: if all the materials used to build the Chinese Wall during the Ming Dynasty are folded into a single wall, 1 meter thick and 5 meters high, then its length will be enough to tie the globe, And if you use all the materials, used by the Qin, Han and Ming dynasties, such a wall could wrap the earth more than ten times.

Today, millions of tourists from all over the world visit this monument of world architecture to enjoy and admire the grandeur of the building, as well as its scale.

China is among the countries with majestic monuments of architecture. The Great Wall of China is a grandiose structure that amazes with its scale, especially if you imagine in what ancient times it was built. The almost nine-kilometer monument stretches across the entire modern country, but in the area near Beijing it is beautiful in its own way. The length of the Chinese wall is about 8850 km.

From the history of construction

The history of the large-scale structure is as striking as its appearance. Try to imagine how many years and effort it took to build the Great Wall of China, the map of which borders the territory Ancient China. Large-scale construction has no analogues in the world.

The construction is led by the emperor Qin Shi-huangdi (III century BC), the ancestor of the Qin dynasty. The wall was built during the Warring States years. The state then suffered from the raids of nomadic peoples. One-fifth of the entire population of then China, that is, more than a million people, took part in the construction.

The Chinese planned to settle further north, so they decided to build a wall with an eye to the future. The leadership of the “Celestial Empire” warned the transition of their people to a nomadic way of life and saved them from being conquered by barbarians. In addition, the Great Wall of China began to serve as a symbol of the monarchy, calling for the unification of the provinces.

Borders of the Chinese Wall:

During the era of the Han Dynasty, they decided to expand the protective wall a little to the west. Many watchtowers were erected, and the protection of merchant caravans was thought out.

The sections of the huge wall that have come down to us were created during the Ming Dynasty in the Middle Ages. During the construction, brick blocks were used, so these parts of the fortification have survived to this day. The boundaries of the wall expanded again - from the Yellow Sea to the province of Gansu.

The Qing Dynasty, which replaced the old rule, treated the main building of China with disdain. For three hundred years (XVII - XX centuries) the Great Wall of China was not repaired and was almost completely destroyed. Only the Badaling Gate near Beijing did not suffer from disregard, as it was a symbol of the entrance to the capital. Now it is this area that is most in demand among tourists. Despite the proposal of US President Nixon to lay a highway on the site of a historical monument, the Chinese Wall remained on the map of attractions.

In 1984, the top leadership changed its mind, and Deng Xiaoping put forward an initiative to restore the ancient monument of architecture. Investment investments of local and foreign companies were fully justified.

Nowadays

Now the Great Wall of China is in a different state in its length. For example, 60 kilometers of structures near Shanxi (northwest) suffer from erosion. Why did the wall suddenly start to crumble? It's all about the harsh methods of active farming that have dried up groundwater. The climate changed and the area became subject to regular sandstorms. Most of the length of the Chinese wall in this section has already been leveled with the ground, and the rest is gradually moving underground.

The introduction of an ancient architectural monument under the auspices of UNESCO slightly corrected the matter - they began to take care of the construction. Tourists traveling around the country bring in a good income, part of which goes to the restoration of crumbling sites.

legends

A huge building over the centuries managed to acquire its own myths. The most implausible - the wall was built entirely in one go. In fact, the length of the Chinese wall is interrupted, this is a segmental line that was built in different parts during the reign of different dynasties.

There are also bloody stories. The construction of a protective fortification claimed the lives of people engaged in heavy physical labor without rest. About a million lives - that's the cost of a grandiose structure. But until now, the Wall of China on the map of world records is the longest structure in the history of mankind.

There is a legend that the mortar for bonding bricks was mixed with powder from human bones, and the dead were thrown directly onto the wall, under the next layer of cement. Modern research proved that the mortar was made from rice flour, and the presence of corpses in the wall would lead to the collapse of the structure.

Another myth is related to traditional Chinese folklore. He tells that the fiery dragon flew in front of the builders, and they built a wall in the wake of his flame. In fact, the workers themselves had to get rid of obstacles in the way.

A beautiful legend about Meng Jing Nu exists to this day. The wife of a farmer who was involved in the construction of the Great Wall of China learned about her husband's death at a construction site. She came and wept against the wall so long that it collapsed and exposed the bones of her lover, which she was able to bury with honor. But this legend is just a fairy tale. Those who died during the construction were buried by their families with special honor. A white rooster sat on the coffin, which screamed so that the spirit of the deceased would not fall asleep. The coffin was carried over the wall so that it would not wander along it.

1. The aforementioned segmentation of the structure led to the fact that the Mongol tribes of Genghis Khan conquered the north of the country in the 13th century. They even ruled over China for more than a hundred years, but the Ming Dynasty drove out the invaders.
2. A person can see it from space. This belief was born over a hundred years ago. It has now been proven that the wall cannot be seen from space.
3. It can be found in the list of new and old wonders of the world.
4. During construction, enterprising Chinese invented wheelbarrows.
5. In addition to the wall, workers had to dig ditches along the defensive structure.
6. Observation towers could reach high altitude. From them it was clearly visible what kind of enemies were going to attack peaceful Chinese. A whole signal system with torches and beacons was thought out.
7. The wall served as a defense during the Sino-Japanese War, when the opponents left a lot of bullets in it.

the great Wall of China is a recognized miracle, a symbol of fortitude and greatness ancient people. Nowadays, the most important thing is the preservation of the monument for posterity.

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