Great Wall holds a collage of scenery

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T

Great Wall holds a collage of scenery

The Great Wall in China, one of the greatest wonders of the world and also a UNESCO World Heritage site, begins in the east at Shanhaiguan Pass in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu province to the west. Its main body consists of walls, horse tracks, watch towers, and shelters on the wall, while along the Wall includes fortresses and passes.

The Great Wall was built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defense project of successive Chinese empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers.

Though some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared, it is still one of the most appealing attractions around the world because of its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

In late 2019, central authorities made public plans for the construction and preservation of national cultural parks based on the Great Wall. Since then, 83 key sections of the structure have been listed as candidates for these parks and some 20 projects for such venues were formally approved in 2021.

Different sections of the Great Wall have distinctive landscapes, and in this flower-blooming season, which one would you prefer to take a tour of?

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Laolongtou Great Wall near Shanhaiguan Pass seen in Qinhuangdao city, Hebei province, Sept 22, 2020. [Photo/SIPA

Shanhaiguan Pass

Known as "the first pass under heaven", Shanhaiguan Pass is 15 kilometers east of urban Qinhuangdao city and famed for its strategic importance in ancient times.

The building at the pass is 14 meters long and 7 meters thick; the top of the east wall is 15 meters wide and can fit up to 10 people.

Beyond Shanhaiguan Pass, the Great Wall stretches eastward until it dips into the Bohai Sea at a place called Laolongtou, meaning old dragon's head. If the Great Wall is likened to a huge dragon meandering through the mountains, Laolongtou is its head facing the sea.

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The blooming flowers are seen at the Badaling Great Wall scenic area in suburban Beijing, April 7, 2022. [Photo/IC]

Badaling Great Wall

The Badaling Great Wall, located in the northwest suburb of Beijing, is a pass of Jundu Mountain. It extends in all directions and therefore got its name as Badaling.

The Badaling Great Wall is the first part of the Great Wall that was opened to the public and is regarded as the soul of the entire Great Wall. It is a must-visit scenic spot for tourists visiting Beijing.

Due to the strategic importance of Badaling, it was the place where the military fought in the past. The Badaling Great Wall became the martial strongpoint as early as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221 BC)

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Photo shows Mutianyu Great Wall after a spring snow, March 20, 2022. [Photo/VCG]

Mutianyu Great Wall

The Mutianyu Great Wall, 70 kilometers from urban Beijing, is known as the best part of the Great Wall. With a unique architectural style, it expresses the essence of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The ancient architecture and the beauty of nature is blended into one harmonious whole, giving rise to Mutianyu's reputation as having the most unique beauty anywhere along the ten thousand mile-long Great Wall.

In spring, flowers bloom; in summer, nearby mountains fed with spring water are covered with green; in autumn, red leaves cover the mountain range and its trees bear fruit; and in winter, snow falls to create a pure white world.

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The night scenery of Simatai Great Wall in suburban Beijing, March 25, 2022. [Photo/VCG

Simatai Great Wall

Located in Miyun district, 130 kilometers northeast of Beijing and neighboring Gubei Water Town, Simatai Great Wall is considered as the most dangerous part of the Great Wall. 

Covering a distance of 5.4 km, it is the only original section of the Great Wall that dates back to the Ming Dynasty.

For anyone intent on experiencing a section of the Great Wall that retains a more antiquated air, the Great Wall at Simatai remains one of the best options. It is also the only section of the Great Wall that provides a night tour for tourists. It is said that since the Ming Dynasty, there has been a tradition that people holding palace lanterns visit this section.

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The spring scenery of Huanghuacheng Great Wall in suburban Beijing, April 7, 2022. [Photo/IC]

Located in Huairou district, 65 kilometers from urban Beijing, the scenic spot is famous for its fusion of mountains, lakes and the ancient Great Wall.

Huanghuacheng Great Wall is 12.4 kilometers long and joins with Mutianyu Great Wall in the east and Juyongguan Pass and Badaling Great Wall in the west.

Huanghuacheng is set amidst a lake and reservoir in which fish shuttle to and fro. When midsummer comes, the whole area is buried in swathes of yellow flowers ( huang hua  in Chinese), from which Huanghuacheng Great Wall got its name.

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A spring snow blankets Jiankou Great Wall in suburban Beijing, March 18, 2022. [Photo/VCG]

Jiankou Great Wall

The Jiankou section is located in the northern Huairou district of Beijing. It is one of the most dangerous parts of the Great Wall and mountain hikers usually call it "the wild Great Wall".

With a total length of 7,952 meters, the Jiankou Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty and was neglected,becoming damaged over time.

The whole section zigzags resembling an arrow in full bow, thus its name. It is much preferred by photographers due to its primitive appearance.

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The Jinshanling Great Wall in morning sunlight in Chengde city, Hebei province, April 1, 2022. [Photo/VCG]

Jinshanling Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall, located in Luanping county, Chengde city of Hebei province, is the best preserved section of the Great Wall with many original features.

What was once used for defensive purposes has become a world famous location for photography enthusiasts and enjoys a reputation as the "paradise of photographers".

With five passes, three beacon towers, and 67 watchtowers that differ in construction materials, the number of tiers and the patterns of roofs, the Jinshanling Great Wall starts from the Gubeikou Pass in the west and ends at the Wangjing Tower in the east, covering a total length of 10.5 kilometers.

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The spring scenery of Xifengkou Great Wall in Qianxi county, Tangshan city, Hebei province, April 9, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xifengkou Great Wall

Located in Qianxi county of Tangshan city in Hebei province, part of the Xifengkou Great Wall lies in the water of the Panjiakou Reservoir. The underwater part is currently faintly visible, creating a unique scene of the Great Wall.

It used to be a major pass along the Great Wall in Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and a battle ground due to its strategic position. It has not been artificially restored and has well retained the long history, making it a famous tourist attraction.

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Yanmenguan Pass and the Great Wall seen at Daixian county, Xinzhou city, Shanxi province, May 28, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Yanmenguan Pass

Located in Daixian county of Xinzhou city in Shanxi province, Yanmenguan Pass is an important pass through the inner line of the Great Wall. Yanmen means "wild goose gate" in Chinese and is named so because wild geese can be seen flying around the pass every year.

Situated at a place of strategic importance that was difficult to get through, it was regarded as "the most important among the nine passes under heaven" in ancient times.

Yanmenguan Pass is about one kilometer long and about four meters high. There are three gates in Yanmen Pass, with a central gate called Yanmen built over a tiny pass between two hills.

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An aerial view shows Jiayuguan Pass in Jiayuguan city, Northwest China's Gansu province, April 12, 2021. [Photo/IC]

Jiayuguan Pass

Jiayuguan Pass, also called "China's No. 1 Pass", is located in the middle of the narrowest valley five kilometers to the west of Jiayuguan city in Northwest China's Gansu province.

The walls on both sides of the pass traverse the desert before connecting with Xuanbi (literally meaning "Suspended") Great Wall in Heishan Mountain in the north and China's No. 1 Pier in the south.

Jiayuguan Pass makes up the Great Wall's western end and was historically known as the throat of Hexi area. Due to its strategically-important location and grand buildings, Jiayuguan Pass is nicknamed "Key of the Border", serving as an important transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road.