Wonderful

a wonder of the world.

The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago under orders from the aforementioned Emperor Huang. Snaked like a never ending dragon, the Wall was built in the 5th century BC as a protective barrier from various northern nomadic groups, such as the Mongolians. The Wall has been rebuilt and maintained across dynasties including the Qin and Ming empires. The cultural relic is reported to be 5,550 miles long from Hushan Great Wall in Liaoning and Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu, down to the Wall in Beijing. According to newly acquired data, the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty is made up of:

o 3,357 wall platforms,
o 723 beacon towers,
o 7,062 lookout towers,
o and 1,026 other ruins

The magnificence of the Wall can be heightened or dampened by the characters that you can encounter. It is an injustice to group the Chinese culture with one adjective because they are plethora of many, just like all others. But if there were a few attributes, they would definitely encompass pushy, funny, peculiar, and charming behavior. Fellow sight-seers are not the ones you should be weary of however; it is the vendors and marketers that pose a harmless yet annoying threat. Some of them have shops set up at the courtyard area of the Wall at Beijing and others stake claim along the wall, beckoning you to purchase their products. It is also worth noting that people who dwell in the country sides of China (and a considerable amount of city dwellers), act fascinated with people of color. While you marvel at the grandiose sight of the Wall and try to take as many photos as possible, people will either hop in your photos or insist that you take one with them. The word “no” must be foreign because it does not go over well!

Amid the vendors, scores of sight-seers and never-ending stretch of stone is a magical atmosphere that engulfs every spirit that is open to experience the enchantment that takes place from enjoying the simplicity of nature’s beauty as it collides with the brilliance of manmade conception.

reflection.
I have to take a moment to give a personal reflection about my experience on the Great Wall of China. At this point, I had been in Beijing for a few days and I was in complete awe of my surroundings. I am a city girl from the States and I could have never fathomed the idea of visiting one of the seven wonder of the world, I feel truly blessed. The air on the wall is lighter, things that meet the eye seem more vibrant, and the walk seems effortless. Seeing the world through a new lens, I have to give thanks to my Savior everyday for the opportunity. Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind in summation of this occurrence.

Other sources:
Travel China Guide. (n.d.). How Long is the Great Wall? [web]. Retrieved from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/facts/how-long.htm