Beyond this very entrance lies a story etched in stone and sky. Welcome to the Entrance for Old Badaling Great Wall. This is more than just an opening. It’s a portal into China’s past. The Badaling Great Wall stands as a testament to strategic brilliance and enduring strength.
This section of the Great Wall of China, located northwest of Beijing, is the most visited. Millions flock here annually. The Badaling Great Wall was built in 1505 during the Ming Dynasty. It was a crucial military outpost. Its purpose was to protect the Juyongguan Pass. Juyongguan Pass further protected Beijing.
The highest point at Badaling is Beibalou. It rises approximately 1,015 meters above sea level. Imagine soldiers standing guard here. They watched for any sign of invaders. The wall itself averages 7.8 meters in height. It is 6.5 meters wide at the base. The top is 5.8 meters wide. This allowed ten soldiers or five horses to walk abreast.
Badaling got its name from its convenient traffic. In Chinese, “Bada” means “giving access to all directions”. This highlights its strategic importance. The Badaling Expressway now connects this section to central Beijing. This makes it easily accessible. The Badaling Great Wall was the first section opened to tourism in 1957. It has undergone restoration to look like the original Great Wall. This allows visitors to experience its historical essence.
Think of the beacon towers. They were part of an old alarming system. Soldiers would burn smoke during the day or light torches at night. This warned garrisons of approaching enemies. The number of smoke columns or gunshots indicated the number of enemy soldiers. One fire meant over 100 enemies. Three fires meant over 1,000.
Many world leaders have visited the Badaling Great Wall. Richard Nixon, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan all walked these stones. Over 540 national leaders have visited. The Badaling Great Wall became an important state venue.
The Badaling Great Wall winds through the mountains. It links two pass cities. Juyong Outer Town is in the east. The Lock and Key of the Northern Gate is in the west. This section commands the highest point of the Guan Valley.
The construction involved huge stone blocks and bricks. Some blocks weigh hundreds of kilograms. These materials contribute to the wall’s imposing structure. Watchtowers dot the landscape every few hundred meters. They provided strategic vantage points.
Chairman Mao Zedong famously said: “Who are we if we cannot reach the Great Wall?” This sentiment captures the wall’s significance. It symbolizes China’s strength and resilience. The Badaling Great Wall received two Guinness World Records in 2002. One was for being the most visited Great Wall section. The other was for hosting the most state leaders.
As you stand here at the Entrance for Old Badaling Great Wall, remember its history. It represents a gateway to understanding China’s past and present. Take a moment to appreciate the enduring legacy of this ancient wonder.