My Travel Series in China-8 The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, had a rich history and attracted millions of visitors each year. In this article, I will share my experience visiting the Great Wall and reflect on its historical significance.

To reach the Great Wall, I hopped on a subway, which took me about 15 minutes from where I lived to Beijing North Railway Station. From there, I boarded a high-speed train that whisked me away to Badaling Great Wall Station in just 35 minutes. Once I arrived, I took a short stroll of about 400 meters to the entrance of the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area.

The Great Wall of China was constructed as a series of fortifications along the northern borders of ancient China to protect against nomadic groups from the northern Steppe. Those nomads, facing challenges like the lack of grass on the grasslands leading to livestock starvation and harsh winters resulting in the freezing of livestock, would often venture into the farming regions south of the Great Wall to plunder food. This struggle between grassland culture and farming culture had been going on for thousands of years.

Construction of the Great Wall began in the 7th century BC, with selective stretches added during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China (220–206 BC). The Great Wall built during the Qin Dynasty extended from Lintao to Liaodong, but only remnants of it remain today. The Han Dynasty (206 BC–8 AD) made significant contributions, with their portion of the wall being the longest, stretching from Mamitu near Yumenguan to Liaodong. The most famous sections of the Great Wall, built using stone and bricks for durability, were constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

With the expansion of China's borders during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) and the inclusion of Mongolia within the empire, the construction of the Great Wall ceased. Nowadays, people have the privilege of exploring sections of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty, conveniently located near Beijing.

As I wrote this article, I couldn't help but contemplate the profound historical significance of the Great Wall. Throughout human civilization, nations have often resorted to military force in their pursuit of wealth and power. However, the failures of aggressive wars launched by Germany and Japan during World War II demonstrated that relying solely on military might did not guarantee success. This realization aligns with Darwin's theory of evolution, suggesting that the survival of a species depends not solely on strength but on the ability to adapt to change.

Although the Great Wall now primarily serves as a tourism landmark, it carries a profound reminder of the perpetual struggle between forcefully plundering and resisting plundering that has persisted throughout history and continues to shape our world today.