Great Wall

The Great Wall stretches for almost 2,400 km (1,500 miles) across northern China, from Shanhaiguan on the Bohai Gulf almost to Jiayuguan in Gansu Province. Although it follows the line of earlier structures, much of the Wall that is visible today was built during the Ming period (1368 - 1644 A.D.).

This photograph was taken at Badaling, a village only 64 km (40 miles) from Beijing. This section of the Wall mostly dates from the 15th century. The Wall varies in height and width. Here, the Wall is about 6 - 7 m (20 - 23 feet) high and around 6.5 m (21 feet) wide at its base. Being so close to Beijing, it is the portion of the Great Wall most often visited by tourists.