The Great Wall of China is one of the most brutal civil engineering in the history of mankind. Chronicles say that during 2100 years (from the V century BC to the sixteenth century), the Chinese fortifications were protected from invasions of nomads from the north. And its main purpose was not to prevent it from being crossed, but rather prevent the invaders brought horses against them.

Photography by d’n’c

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, famous among other things to do Terracotta soldiers, Xian (statues), unified the empire in 221 BC and joined the stretches of wall constructed previously. During the next thousand years of the reconstruction, the wall grew to 7300 km in length. Of the 7,300 km of wall that came to be built, there were 4,000 km of continuous wall, from Central Asia to the Yellow Sea. The watchtower is happening to each tract that served to send smoke signals to communicate possible incursions by nomadic armies. Currently only has a small accessible part of the 4,000 km of wall. Some fragments have been restored to allow the visit.

Photography by Francisco Diez

Recommended if you want to visit the Great Wall of China from Beijing:

Go to the Great Wall of China is not a simple walk, must walk a lot in addition to going up and down steep stairs, so we recommend good footwear and eager to discover every corner of the wall.

– Badaling, is the part of the Chinese wall again restored and more influx of tourists. Probably will not enjoy the visit much like going to other parts of the wall. It is 70 km from Beijing.

– Simatai, is part of the Great Wall most spectacular of all the fragments recovered. It was built in the sixth century, but rebuilt by the Ming dynasty. Has a length of 5 km and is located 120 km from Beijing. Everything and be the best Chinese wall fragments should be advised to have slopes of up to 70% grade.

– Jinshanling, this part of the wall is located 120 km from Beijing, and is connected to the wall at Simatai. It was built in the sixteenth century by the Ming Dynasty, and has a length of 10 km, with 67-lookout towers. It is a good place to find the wall without too many tourists.

– Mutianyu, is a fragment of the Great Wall 70 km from Beijing, built the sixth century. It is in very good condition and not very touristy. The degree of difficulty is not complex, and has a small cable car transports you to the top of the Great Wall, and you can descend a slide.

– Finally, recommend or watch the sunrise from the Great Wall. Many visitors stay the night in the watchtower, or you are camping in the vicinity of the wall, which in theory is also prohibited.

The Great Wall of China, overcame his own military in order to become the raison d’être of the Chinese Empire. It was a common task that holds millions of distant citizens, separating them from their nomadic and directing to the modern desire to be farmers and caretakers of the land and unite the identity of people that still persists today.

Photography by ralphrepo

Good Luck!