Introduction of Badaling Great Wall
The Great Wall, winding across the north of China, is one of the wonders of the world. Constructed by the ancient Chinese, it is an expression of Chinese culture./ n, a
The Wall has a history of more than 2,500 years. Its construction began in the 7th Century B.C. during the Warring States Period. Many dukedoms built walls in Central China to protect themselves from each other and from the “barbarians.” Walls were built by the states of Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin; these seven dukedoms conquered many other small states and became the seven most powerful in the Warring States Period.” When Qin Shihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, unified China and established the first centralized feudal empire (221-206 BC), he ordered that these northern sections of the wall be linked together into one defensive bulwark. Emperor Qin Shihuang gave general Meng Tian an army of 300,000 forced laborers and the mission to consolidate the Qin Great Wall from Lintao in Gansu Province in the west to Liaodong in the east.The Han Great Wall started from Lop Nor in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region to Liaodong in the east--about 10,000 km and became the longest Great Wall in history. The Ming Dynasty was the last in Chinese history to do large-scale construction of the Great Wall; and most of the walls we see today were built in the Ming Dynasty. It is worth mentioning that in history some minority rulers, such as rulers of Beiwei, Beiqi, Beizhou, Dongwei, Jin and so on, also built parts of the Great Wall. Among them, the Jin dynasty (1115-1234) built the longest Great Wall, which stretches for about 2,500 km. So from the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period to Ming Dynasty, more than 20 states or empires built the Great Wall, total of which runs for about 100,000 li, covering 17 provinces, autonomous regions and cities. On the whole, the Great Wall ran for about
100,000 li and has existed for 2000 years. It is roughly calculated that if the bricks and soil used to build the Great Wall was built into a wall 5 m high and 1 m thick, the wall can circle the earth 10 times.
Badaling Great Wall is the wall built in the Ming Dynasty. Considering its construction and defenses, it can be regarded as an excellent representation of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. The Ming Dynasty built such a solid wall at Badaling primarily, because of its location--Badaling not only defends of the Royal Tombs of Ming Dynasty, but also the northwestern gate of the capital. Shortly, we will see an in scription called “ Key to the Northern Gate.” The “Northern Gate” is the gate of Beijing and “key” refers to its strategic importance, i.e., if this gate is well defended, Beijing will be secure. To strengthen its defenses, the Ming Dynasty had a policy to “Heighten the Wall”. So the founder of the empire sent his generals Xuda and Fengsheng to lead their soldiers to construct the wall and sturdy gates. During the 270 years of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was constructed and then repaired for 18 times. Finally a Great Wall from Yalu River of Liaoning Province in the east to Jiayuguan Pass of Gansu Province in the west has been built. This is what we have called the 10-thousand-li Great Wall running through 9 provinces, autonomous regions and cities. The architectural level and defensive ability of this wall are incomparable in history. During the Ming Dynasty, rows of walls were built to strengthen the defenses and in certain strategic areas, gates have been built. In Shanxi Province there are 4 rows of the Great Wall with passes and many rows of low walls in some strategic areas. For example, at Yanmenguan which is located in a 10-li valley, there are 28 rows of stone walls. It can be said that every inch of soil in this area was heavily defended.
To resist invasion, the Ming Dynasty stationed 900,000 soldiers along the Great Wall and divided it into 9 defensive sections, in which a general was sent to take charge. These defensive sections were called “towns.” The
nine towns were: Liaodong, Jin, Xuanfu, Datong, Shanxi, Yansui, Ningxia, Guyuan, and Gansu.
Juyongguan was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and has northern and southern gates, outside which is Wengcheng. Ancient Juyongguan Pass was destroyed but in recent years, it has restored its previous splendor. Yuntai was built in 1342, during the Yuan Dynasty; it used to have 3 stone towers, but they were destroyed by an earthquake between the Yuan and Ming Dynasty (circa 1368). Taian Temple was built there but was destroyed by a fire in 1702. The remaining base, the present Yuntai, is the largest remnant tower base in China; it is one of the most important historical relics of China.The hills on both sides used to be covered with lush pines, which added great beauty to the hills. The location, called “Layers of Pines in Juyong,” was listed as one of the eight famous scenes of Beijing in Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), but a huge fire in 1500, during the Ming Dynasty, totally destroyed the forest. Although great efforts have been made in recent years, the former scenery cannot be adequately restored because of lack of rainfall. Some other famous scenes of Guangou, such as “Commanding Platform of Mu Guiying (a famous ancient heroine),” “Fairy Bridge,” “Tanqin Valley” and so on cannot be restore d.
Badaling Great Wall is a subordinate pass of the Juyongguan Pass at Jin Town and belongs to the defensive area called a “Road,” which runs from 45 km outside Yellow Flower County of Xishuiyu in the east to 60 outside Zijin Pass of Jianzi Valley in the west, and from Wanping County in the south to Xuanfu Boundary of Tumuyi in the north. Guancheng of Jiayuguan Pass is located at the strategic passage to the north of Beijing and Badaling is the northern gate of the strategic pass. On the south of Badaling, there used to be 3 passes: Nankou, Juyonguan and Shangguan and together with Badaling, constituted the four passes.
In 1505 during the Ming Dynasty, Badaling was constructed as an enclosed town, called “Guancheng”. M eanwhile, in the strategic passages
within the territory of Yanqing County, more than 100 beacon and fire towers were built. At that time, the Anda Tribe from the north invaded southward. In 1515 the Anda Tribe reached Badaling and in the following year, reached Yanqing County, greatly threatening Beijing. Their troops attacked and withdrew too swiftly to be seized. In 1529 the eastern gate of Badaling Great Wall was rebuilt to strengthen the defenses. In 1551, barracks were built northwest of Badaling to help repel the enemy. In 1568, a heroic general of battles against the invaders was sent to command the Jin, Chang and Bao military towns. He rebuilt a 600 km-long section of the Wall from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Juyongguan Pass in the west. In 1582 the western gate of the Great Wall was rebuilt. The Great Wall in Badaling was constructed with high walls and many beacon towers constituting an effective defensive system.
Badaling Great Wall has witnessed many historic events; through here Qin Shihuang, the first emperor in China, returned to Xianyang, his capital after he prayed in the East; here the founder of Yuan Dynasty entered the Chinese heartland; here the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty resisted the enemies from the north, through here Dowager Empress Cixi escaped the troops of the Eight Allied Forces. Outside the eastern gate of Badaling Great Wall, there is still a famous scenic location: “Looking- Toward Beijing Rock.” The name derived from the fact that as Cixi passed here she looked back and gave Beijing a last look.
Qing Dynasty ruler (1644-1911) did not continue repairing the Great Wall, which by then was of no strategic importance. The Great Wall deteriorated. After the foundation of New China, the Great Wall was listed as an important scenic spot and reconstructed and repaired several times. In 1961, Badaling Great Wall was opened to the tourists. In 1984, Deng Xiaoping, the former president of China, advocated, “Love our nation and repair our Great Wall” and the Great Wall was repaire d again. After this reparation the tourist area expanded to 19,000 square meters. In 1986, the
Great Wall was listed as one of the 16 famous scenes of Beijing. In 1987, the Great Wall was named a “World Cultural Heritage” by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. The original certificate of award is preserved in the Chinese Great Wall Museum located at the foot of the Badaling Great Wall. In 1991, Badaling Great Wall was listed as one of the top 40 tourist attractions in China.
Badaling Great Wall is the first section of the Great Wall opened to the tourists and is very famous. Badaling Great Wall has received more than 60,000,000 tourists, including over 300 celebrities, such as U. S. presidents Nixon and Reagan, British Prime Minister Thatcher, Former USSR president Gorbachev, British Queen Elizabeth II, and the Emperor of Japan, etc. A view of the Great Wall is really fascinating.
This concludes my brief introduction of Badaling Great Wall. Anyone who wants more detailed knowledge can visit the Great Wall Museum located in the Guntiangou Parking Lot. President Jiang Zeming calligraphy of the museum’s name is inscribed there. The museum comprehensively reflects the history and current state of the Great Wall. It has nine exhibition halls with a total space of some 3,000 square meters. The exhibitions are divided into eight parts: “the Great Wall in various Dynasties,” “the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty,” “Structures and Armaments,” “Battles fought around the Great Wall,” “Cultural and Economic Exchanges,” “National Art Treasures,” “Loving China and Repairing the Great Wall” and “First of All the Scenic Sites and Rainbow of Friendship.” On display are some of the best cultural relics unearthed in various locations along the Great Wall. Also visible are substantial historical data, photos and models, all of which enhance our understanding of the Great Wall –the symbol of the China and an important cultural heritage of the world. Important exhibits include the original World Cultural Heritage Certificate issued by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, as well as photos showing 200 heads of states and governments
leaders from 120 countries that have visited Badaling Great Wall over the past 40 years. 2 e: W7 Z8 ~% i& ^6 w
The present Great Wall has lost its military value, but it still attracts tourists from all over the world. The Great Wall is one of the wonders of the world and a cultural heritage of the world. It is the symbol of China.