Best places to visit in China : The Great Wall

Some say it can be seen from space, but unless you’re a top gun at NASA, perhaps you’ll never know. Instead, experience the real deal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World and an enduring symbol of
Chinese civilisation and genius, the UNESCO protected Great Wall of China was built as a defensive structure to protect China against marauding invaders from the north. Although the present wall dates mainly from the Ming dynasty, some 20 states and dynasties were involved in its immense construction over a period of 2,000 years and followed different routes and building extensions as required. Snaking some 6700 kms across barren hills, deserts, mountains and plateaus, the now partially ruinous Great Wall stretches east to west in northern China and is believed to be the longest man made structure in the world.

Today, people from all over the world visit to walk on the Great Wall of China, stand on a watchtower and view the wall, winding as far as the eye can see, over the horizon. The Badaling section is perhaps the best preserved and most frequently visited by tourists. A modern-day visit to the Great Wall offers a healthy, if steep and vertiginous walk, with breathtaking views of the Chinese countryside.