| The Great Wall of China was originally built in the | | | | hiking along this section of the Great Wall (about 4 |
| Spring & Autumn Period (770-476BC), once | | | | hrs) has become a must program for the foreign |
| stretched approximately 12,000 kilometers from the | | | | hiking enthusiasts. |
| Bohai Sea in the east to the Gobi Desert, Lop Nor in | | | | Mutian Yu Great Wall |
| the west. It is actually a series of stone, bricky and | | | | South East of Jinshanling is the Mutianyu Great Wall, |
| earthen fortifications and puts itself on the map as | | | | which was originally built in over 1400 years ago, and |
| the greatest of the eight ancient architectural | | | | rebuilt in the early years of the Ming dynasty |
| wonders in the history of human civilization. In 221 | | | | (1368-1644). It winds along the valleys and lofty, |
| B.C, when the first China's emperor, Chinshihuang | | | | cragged mountains from the southeast to the |
| finished conquering all the kingdoms, he linked all the | | | | northwest for about 2.25 kilometers. It is connected |
| walls that belonged to the different states. And since | | | | with Juyongguan Pass to the west and Gubeikou to |
| then the Great Wall was built, rebuilt to protect the | | | | the east. Along the wall, the watchtowers are found |
| northern borders of the Chinese Empire from the | | | | building on the top of the peaks or on the precipitous |
| Hun's and Mongolian attacks during the rule of | | | | cliffs. Here there are three sections of wall meet in a |
| successive dynasties. Today, many famous Great | | | | watchtower. This section is located in the Huairou |
| Wall sections and ruins that belong to different | | | | County, Beijing, is only 70km from the downtown. |
| dynasties are still remained in Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, | | | | Jiankou Great Wall |
| Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, | | | | Jiankou Great Wall also known as the Arrow Nock |
| Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, Hubei, | | | | Great Wall, was built in the Huairou County, Beijing. It |
| and Hunan etc. The current wall only stretches about | | | | stretches along the lofty cliffs and perilous peaks, |
| 6,700 kilometers totally, and the most intact sections | | | | looks like a "w" from afar. Jiankou Great Wall is one |
| are all nearly built in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). | | | | of the famous sections of the Ming-dynasty-built |
| The Great Wall is a must see for those who visit | | | | Great Wall. For admiring the majesty and danger of |
| China. Along the giant dragon winds through the lofty | | | | the Great Wall of China, the photographers and |
| mountains, great rivers, and boundless deserts, many | | | | tourists from all over the world have a liking for |
| hikers enjoy their tour by unveiling the interesting | | | | visiting this section. |
| ancient Chinese facts and recording the picturesque | | | | Other Famous Sections of the Great Wall |
| landscape take their breath away. For many years, | | | | Huangyaguan Pass Great Wall |
| most people have flocked to the sections in Beijing | | | | Placed in the endless tall mountains of Ji County, |
| and its nearby areas. But now some begin to explore | | | | Tianjin, Huangyaguan Pass Great Wall was first built in |
| the western part since the portion shares the same | | | | 557 A.D. In the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), it was |
| line and mystery with the ancient Silk Road. | | | | rebuilt by general Qijiguang (1528-1588) for anti the |
| It is just as a Chinese proverb goes that "He who | | | | Japanese pirates. The portion of Huangyaguan Great |
| has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man!", | | | | Wall featured grandness, danger, uniqueness, and |
| therefore you should not miss this great symbol of | | | | elegance. It has the well-designed watchtowers, |
| the Chinese nationality. | | | | different stylish turrets, and deep water passes. |
| The following 6 sections are in Beijing or its nearby | | | | Shanhaiguan Pass Great Wall |
| counties which were renovated and which are | | | | This Ming-dynasty-built Great Wall is lying in |
| regularly visited by tourists from across the world. | | | | Qinghuangdao City, Hebei Province. It is the eastern |
| Badaling Great Wall | | | | extremity of the wall. In fact, this section is a small |
| Built in 1505AD, the Badaling Great Wall is known as | | | | city connected to the Great Wall and known as the |
| one of the nine famous passes of the Great Wall and | | | | "No. 1 Pass under Heaven". Shanghaiguan Great Wall is |
| the outpost of the famous Juyongguan Pass. When | | | | called the "Museum of the Construction of the Great |
| used by the Chinese to protect their land, this part | | | | Wall", because of its many ancient buildings including |
| has had many guards to defend the capital city | | | | the grand city gates, towers, temples, and moat. |
| Beijing. Made of stone and bricks from the mountains, | | | | Laolongtou Great Wall |
| this section is 8meters high and 6 meters wide. It is | | | | About 4km to the south of the Shanghaiguan Pass |
| generally rated as one of the best 40 tourist | | | | Great Wall is the starting point of the wall |
| destinations of China. In the Badaling Great Wall | | | | --Laolongtou, where the Great Wall begins there and |
| Scenic Area, the China Great Wall Museum was built | | | | meets the sea. When climb on its Denghailou Tower, |
| for those who want more information about the wall. | | | | a giant dragon winds through the mountains and put |
| Gubeikou Great Wall | | | | its head into the wide sea to drink water can be |
| Gubeikou is an important strategic pass of the Great | | | | enjoyed. |
| Wall, which is located in Miyun County, Beijing. This | | | | Yanmenguan Pass Great Wall |
| section has been reconstructed many times since the | | | | Yanmenguan aka Goose Gate Pass, located in Dai |
| Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-256B.C.). It is famed for | | | | County, Shanxi Province, which is a very important |
| its natural beauty and places of historical interest | | | | pass of the Great Wall for military in western China. |
| along the wall. Both sides of the wall have the ancient | | | | And as an ancient war field, the Han, Hun, Turk, |
| war fields, royal hunting grounds, emperors' summer | | | | Uygur, Xianbi, Qiedan, Nuzhen and Mongolia had made |
| resort remains, barracks ruins, and old post roads... | | | | their wars here. Now some famous ancient temples, |
| Simatai Great Wall | | | | shrine ruins of the Warring State Period (403-221B.C.), |
| Located in Miyun County, Beijing, 120 kilometers from | | | | watchtowers, and beacon towers are still found in |
| Beijing downtown, Simatai Great Wall is renowned for | | | | the Yanmenguan Pass Great Wall. |
| its unique watchtowers, walls and the stunning natural | | | | The Jiayuguan Pass Great Wall |
| beauty. This segment is very precipitous, still keeps | | | | Being built at the foot of the Mt. Jiayu that located in |
| the original form and known as the living Chinese | | | | the southwest of the Jiayuguan City, it was named. |
| Great Wall Museum. Wangjing Lou (Viewing Beijing | | | | This section was built in 1372 A.D, which is the wall's |
| Tower) is one of Simatai's famous watchtowers, 986 | | | | terminal point that built in the Ming dynasty in the |
| meters above sea level. Walking across a flying | | | | west China. This wall is 11.7 meters in height and 733 |
| passage across between the cliffs, a courageous | | | | meters in length, it is actually a trapezoidal city pass |
| visitor can reach there. | | | | with stately towers and turrets. Standing on the pass |
| The Simatai Great Wall Scenic Area furnishes with all | | | | city wall, tourists can give an eye-popping view of |
| kinds of facilities such as the cable lifts, boats, | | | | the scenery nearby. |
| swimming pools, fishing gears, shops, hotels, meeting | | | | Ning Xia Ancient Great Wall |
| rooms, encampment, and fields for barbecue. | | | | This section was rammed with earth in the Warring |
| Jinshanling Great Wall | | | | States Period (403-221B.C.) and belonged to the Chin |
| Located in the Luanpin County, Hebei Province, | | | | State. Its present height only ranges from 1meter to |
| Jinshanling Great Wall was initially built in 1368 AD, and | | | | 3 meters. Every 200--300 meters, a block platform is |
| has never been reconstructed for over 400 years. It | | | | attached to the wall. Many ruins of beacon towers |
| snaked away into the distance and meets the | | | | are found in its nearby fields, on the mountains and |
| Simatai Great Wall finally (the whole section is about | | | | on the mountain passes that it passes through. The |
| 10 kilometers). Jinshanling section is considered the | | | | Ning Xia Ancient Great Wall makes its journey from |
| quintessence of the Great Wall. Hiking along the wall, | | | | the Gansu Province then reaches the south part of |
| you can see many different stylish watchtowers, | | | | the Xiji County, Ningxia Province, and then bends to |
| emplacements, block walls, stables, and storehouses. | | | | the northeastward to wind around the Guyuan |
| In addition, the beauty of Beijing and Miyun Reservoir | | | | County. From there it bends to the southeast and |
| seen from its highest watchtower-Wangjing Lou | | | | runs through the Yangcheng and finally ends in the |
| (literally Viewing Beijing Tower, 980 meters above | | | | Zhenyuan County, Gansu Province. |
| sea level) is a tremendous spectacle. These years, | | | | |