A distinct national symbol of Chinese civilization, The Great Wall is one of the world’s most astounding man made creations. It was built during the 5th century BC and was restructured, revamped and preserved up until the 16th Century. The Great Wall is about 6,400 kilometres long and was constructed in order to guard the nation from Xiongnu attacks.
The most visited section of the Great Wall is Badaling which lies about 80 kilometres northwest of the city of Beijing in Yanqing County. Constructed during the Ming Dynasty, Badaling which is recognised as the most well preserved part of the Great Wall boasts an altitude of more than 1,000 metres.
It is believed that Badaling Great Wall was built with a main priority of shielding the Juyongguan Pass or Juyongguan part of the Great Wall. This helped further strengthen the security of the city of Beijing. The Badaling section is approximately 3, 740 meters long with an average height of 8 metres. However, the highest point is about 15 metres. It is stated that the wall’s width can accommodate 5 large size horses to ride side by side.
Popular as one of the initial sections to be opened to the public, the Badaling Great Wall is contracted on the top and wide on the base. Made out of enormous stones, the wall’s interior is created of mud and stone blocks which has resulted in making it both clean and firm. Every 300 to 500 metres, travellers will come across fortresses of two different kinds. There are the two storey fortresses that are known as the fighting towers. The bottom floor was normally used for living, storing food and weapons while the top floor was mainly used for observing and attacking.
Located in close proximity to Badaling is the magnificent Great Wall Museum. The Great Wall National Theatre is also located close by. In 1987 the United Nation listed Badaling as a World Cultural heritage. This alluring site can be further explored by staying at a nearby luxury hotel in Beijing. Most Beijing hotels are renowned for offering unsurpassed quality along with friendly and professional service. For instance, Raffles Beijing Hotel is an ideal choice for both vacationers and business travellers alike.