No. 87
Great Wall of China
- Where
- China
- Built by
- Many dynasties, mostly the Ming
- Era
- 700s BCE-1600s CE
- Known for
- Thousands of miles of walls and forts.
- How it ended
- It lost its purpose after the Qing ruled both sides; long stretches eroded.
Lyra Kael can take you here on the globe, tell you the story out loud and answer your questions. Start the time jump.
Background
Badaling (Chinese: 八达岭; pinyin: Bādálǐng) is the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall of China, approximately 80 kilometers (50 mi) northwest of Beijing's city center, in Badaling Town, Yanqing District, Beijing municipality. The portion of the wall running through the site was built in 1504 during the Ming Dynasty, along with a military outpost reflecting the location's strategic importance. The highest point of Badaling is Beibalou (北八樓), approximately 1,015 meters (3,330 ft) above sea level.
Badaling Great Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty (1505) to occupy a commanding and strategic position for protecting the Juyong Pass to its south, further protecting the city of Beijing.
The portion of the wall at Badaling has undergone restoration, and in 1957, it was the first section of the wall to open to tourism. Now visited annually by millions, the immediate area has seen significant development, including hotels, restaurants, and a cable car.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.