Saturday, January 10, 2009

Just Arrived from Beijing

I just arrived from Beijing, China. Of course, I visited the Great Wall of China. I can say that it's really majestic and it's really one-of-a-kind. The walls are too high and you can never imagine that only human being built that wall.

Did you know that the Great Wall stretches over approximately 6,400 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km in total; a more recent archaeological survey using advanced technologies points out that the entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8 thousand kilometers!

The Chinese were already familiar with the techniques of wall-building by the time of the Spring and Autumn Period, which began around the 8th century BC. During the Warring States Period from the 5th century BC to 221 BC, the states of Qi, Yan and Zhao all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly by stamping earth and gravel between board frames.

This is really an awesome and majestic. You should visit this Great Wall before you die.