The Great Wall of China: A Monumental Marvel

Inspiration and adventure are everywhere!

This month saw a remarkable opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in China, not a destination I thought I'd find myself in this year. One of the highlights was the opportunity to visit the Great Wall on a couple of occasions, and being a history tragic, I was in my element.

The Great Wall of China stretches nearly 21,000 kilometres, making it one of human history's most extensive architectural wonders. It traverses diverse landscapes, from mountains to deserts, with feats of ancient engineering brilliance. It's not one continuous structure but a complexity of branching, often enclosing walls, parallel structures, and gaps where high mountains or rivers form natural barriers between the human-made sections.

Image Source: Wikipedia

The creation of this wonder spanned over 2,300 years (680 BCE – 1681 CE) and more than nine dynasties, with significant contributions from the Qin, Han, and Ming dynasties. Different sections were built, destroyed, and renovated over millennia. The centuries-long project aimed to defend China against invasions from northern nomadic tribes, but the wall was so much more than just a defensive barrier.

Image Source: Simon Townsend

The wall's construction employed various materials, ranging from earth and wood to bricks and stones. The builders, generations of soldiers, prisoners, and citizens utilised the local resources available in different regions, displaying incredible adaptability in design and construction methods.

Image Source: Simon Townsend

Despite popular belief, the Great Wall is not easily visible from space with the naked eye. Astronauts may see it from low Earth orbit, but its narrow width and colour blend with the natural surroundings, making it challenging to spot.

The primary purpose of the Great Wall was defence. Watchtowers, garrison stations, and beacon towers adorned its length, facilitating rapid communication and quick responses to potential threats. Smoke signals and beacon fires relayed messages over vast distances.

Image Source: Simon Townsend (Photograph of art in the Great Halls of the People, Beijing)

Beyond its defensive role, the Great Wall facilitated economic and cultural exchanges. It served as a trade route, allowing merchants to traverse regions safely and fostering the exchange of ideas, technologies, and goods. Wandering through the Great Halls of the People in Beijing, the impact of this unique structure on the artists of China is everywhere, with the wall's unmistakable ramparts appearing in magnificent works of art adorning the spectacular halls.

The construction of the Great Wall involved a colossal workforce. Historical records suggest that millions of soldiers, peasants, and prisoners worked on its creation. It is often referred to as "the longest cemetery on Earth" due to the number of labourers who perished during construction. Despite the wall's reported toll on life, no bodies have been found during archeological excavations within the actual wall itself.

Image Source: Simon Townsend

Some segments of the wall date back to the 7th century BC, and these ancient sections, like those in Shanhaiguan and Jiayuguan, offer a glimpse into the earliest phases of the wall's construction and are vital archaeological and historical sites. In 1987, UNESCO designated the Great Wall a World Heritage Site, recognising its cultural significance and global importance. Today, the Great Wall attracts millions of visitors annually. Sections such as Badaling and Mutianyu are famous for their accessibility and well-preserved features. The wall's cultural and historical significance makes it a must-visit destination for locals and foreigners, inviting visitors to explore an ancient marvel spanning centuries and civilisations.

I never thought I'd ever walk along the Great Wall of China, but the experience illustrates that the next adventure really could be 'just around the corner'. So here's my advice: seize every opportunity life presents. Inspiration is everywhere! Now, I just have to figure out how to get a magnificent wall into my next book.

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