Today, the Great Wall of China, a World Heritage Site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/438), is the biggest and most popular tourist attraction, visited by an estimated 63 million people each year. 11 It is a destination for many famous folks as well, including a total of 400 heads-of-state (Richard Nixon is among them). 5 The most visited section is Badaling, while the closest section to Beijing, Juyong Pass, sees some 10,000 people visit a day. 11
Where logistically possible, the Wall followed the area's steepest terrain to ensure that the enemy could not get above the defenders on foot or horseback. 13
The Great Wall of China is far from flat! There are thousands of stairs which challenge even conditioned hikers. |
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Described as the experience of a lifetime, runners move over flat terrain and are challenged by more than 3,700 steps during the Great Wall Marathon. The first people to run a marathon on the Wall are Jan and Dick Molen in 1985. www.great-wall-marathon.com 
Norwegian Robert Loken, 42, one of first few persons in the world to have walked the Ming Dynasty Great Wall from end to end. He completed his 601 day journey on December 2, 2010. Loken walked to raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. While about a dozen foreigners and even more Chinese have followed the Ming Wall from Jiayuguan to the end of the exisiting bulwark in Hebei province’s Shanhaiguan, Loken was the first to continue on to retrace the Ming-era maps’ original route to Hushan. He spent nearly two years dealing with wild dogs, scorpions and snakes, running out of water in the Gobi desert, breaking his big toe in Shanxi, and surviving a blizzard. He carried a card with his mission printed in Chinese to hand to curious people along the way. 12
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Over the past decade, several sections of the Wall have been discovered. A section 2000 years old was uncovered in August, 2002 in the desert of Gansu Province in northwest China. In May, 2007 near the Mongolian border, the northern-most section of the Wall was found. In 2009, and additional 180 mile section built during the Ming Dynasty in the Hushan Mountains was discovered. Most recently, in October, 2010, a 50-mile section on the southern slope of Mt. Helan was uncovered. 15 |
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Although the Great Wall is nothing like a traditional trail, hundreds hike this "Dragon's Back" each year. While the path is clearly worn, there are still many challenges, including 60 vertical climbs ("ladders of stone"). Abandoned guard towers serve as shelters. Do-it-Yourself hikers are discouraged, so check out www.mountainbikingasia.com for tours. Remember: Leave No Trace!
While conservation efforts have continued through much of the 20th century (The Last Door of Heaven was restored in 1949), the Great Wall is still listed on a 2002 list of the World's Most Endangered Sites. Based on a 45 day-long survey of 101 sections of the Wall in 2002, scientists reported that only 30% remains in good condition. 18 Seriously threatened by development and encroachment, effects of the forces of nature, as well as just old age, as evidenced by crumbling archways of ancient guard towers and keystones dangling like rotten teeth, patrol teams now issue fines for abuse. Conservation efforts include laws protecting the wall from intentional damage like grafitti or removal of stones, and also bans the use of vehicles on the wall. The government also encourages citizens to donate money to preserved the ancient structure. In fact, when Deng Xiaoping became Premier of China in 1977, his slogan was "if you love China, repair the Wall". 5 He encouraged all segments of society from individuals to organizations to businesses, to contribute expertise, volunteer time and money to further the effort. Perhaps the most significant amount of restoration has been funded by one individual, Yang Yongfu, a farmer in the Northwest Gansu province. He has completed 750 miles so far. 18
www.friendsofgreatwall.org |
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