On the morning of September 20, 2004, the group toured a portion of the Great Wall of China located about 60 miles from Beijing. China’s Great Wall easily qualifies as the world’s greatest civil engineering feat. The massive ramparts were begun in separate strategic sections between 403-221 B.C. During the reign of China’s first Qin emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, some 300,000 men were put to work connecting the segments into one huge, snaking fortification. Archaeologists estimate that the wall once ran for 6,200 miles through an expanse that now covers 16 provinces. Today the wall is still impressive at 3,750 miles in length (from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Dessert).

Contrary to common belief, the Great Wall was more than just a barrier. Instead, it served as an elevated highway linking the defensives forces along China’s rugged northern frontier. The road way atop the wall provided a means of rapid communication and deployment of troops, arms, and food.

The Great Wall of Cgina

Panoramic view of part of the snaking Great Wall

You can't see her but Ginger climbed up a very steep portion of the Great Wall. It was like going up the face of a cliff. I marked the spot where she was when I took the picture.

I stood at a tower level and cheered her on. I'm too old and out of shape for that kind of activity!

More Beijing in my next post.