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The Great Wall is probably the most well known cultural artifact of China. Begun in the 5C BC and only finished in the 16C, it stretches 6,000 kms across China, and is one of the few man-made objects visible from space. Ironically, despite a cost of millions of lives expended to build the wall over so may centuries, it proved useless in the end against the Mongol hordes, and later against marine invasions by Japan and the European powers.
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| The scenery en route from Beijing to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall passes through so much open that it is difficult to believe China is home to one-sixth of the world's population. | |
A sign in the town of Huairou (a town between Beijing and Mutianyu) exhorting the masses to exhibit their best behavior. |
Peaches for sale at the entrance to Mutianyu - some of the juiciest I've ever tasted, and only about US 50¢ per kilo. |
Great Wall at Mutianyu. This section of the wall is about 90 km from Beijing, and receives fewer visitors than the Badaling section, which is closer. It dates from 1368, and was restored in 1983. |
The Great Wall at Mutianyu. |
Great Wall - I met these two students from a university in Wuhan, who were visiting on their break. |
More delicious peaches on the road from Mutianyu to the Ming Tombs. |
The Ming Tombs lie 45km northwest of Beijing, and are the resting place for 13 of the 16 Ming dynasty emperors. The tombs themselves are of little interest, the contents having been removed some time ago, but the scenery and setting is well worth the journey.
Looking toward one of the Ming Tombs. |
Structures over the tomb of Changling, begun in 1409 and completed 18 years later. |
One of the semi-derelict tombs awaits funds for restoration. |
Entrance to Dingling, the tomb of the emperor Wan Li (1573-1620). |
The Great Stone Arch stands at the entrance to the 40 square kilometer area of royal tombs. |
Just beyond the Great Stone Arch is the 7km 'spirit way', lined with figures of stone animals. |
Map courtesy of Lonely Planet. |
