The Great Wall

Author: China Odyssey Tours

The Great Wall of China, one of the most awe-inspiring man-made projects in the world, lies across the northern part of China like a great sleeping dragon, winding its way through China's vast northern territory. With a history of over 2,500 years, the Great Wall attracts visitors from all over the world. In 1987, the Great Wall was listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Great Wall of China was selected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a global poll announced on July 7, 2007. It is often said "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Most people in the world have seen photos of The Great Wall, but photos are but poor imitations of the beauty and grandeur that is China's Great Wall. No China tour is complete without seeing the Great Wall. Visiting it is the experience of lifetime.

The legend of Meng Jiangnu bringing down a section of the Great Wall with her tears

Many legends have survived about the construction of the Great Wall. Among them, the most popular is the story about Lady Meng Jiangnu.
On the night of their wedding, Meng Jiangnu's husband was conscribed to work on the Great Wall by the Qin soldiers. Before he went away, Lady Meng broke her white jade hairpin in two and gave her husband one half as a token of love. One day, lady Meng dreamed that her husband was constantly yelling "Cold, cold". She recalled that her husband was wearing very thin clothes. She made some padded clothes for her husband and left home to look for her husband. She didn't realize that her husband had already died of exhaustion. Upon hearing this, she burst into tears. The Great Wall was moved and more than 20 Kilometers collapsed, revealing the body of her husband and many others. On seeing this, she committed suicide by jumping into the sea. A temple can be found at Shanhai Pass near the sea in memory of this loyal lady.


A statue of Meng Jiangnu at Shanhai Pass

The statue of Meng Jiangnu is eternally looking for her husband

Sections of the Great Wall

The Great Wall Near Beijing
Factors, such as season, accessibility, safety, health condition, should be taken into account when visiting the Great Wall. The view as you climb to the top is stunning. Badaling and Juyong Pass is the most visited and most easily accessible part of the Wall. The section between Jinshanling and Simatai requires more physical stamina to climb. The scenery of Mutianyu Great Wall is extremely beautiful in autumn when the trees covering the mountainsides have turned golden.

Badaling Great Wall
The best-preserved and most imposing section of the Great Wall is at Badaling, which is located 72 kilometers (45 miles) away at the northwest of Beijing. In Chinese, 'Bada' means 'giving access to every direction'. The name itself suggests its strategic importance. This section is made of large blue bricks. The wall has an average height of 7 meters (24 feet) and a width of 6 meters (19 feet) at the bottom, and 5 meters (16 feet) at the top. It is wide enough to allow ten soldiers to march side by side along the wall. The highest point here is more than 731 meters (2,400 feet) above sea level.


Badaling, the most visited site of The Great Wall nearby Beijing

The Badaling Section is one of the most picturesque locations on The Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall
Suggested Beijing tours including Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall is located 70kilometers (43 miles) from the center of Beijing. It is much steeper than Badaling Great Wall, and a more challenging climb. This section, older than Badaling, is considered by Chinese and foreign tourists as the best part of the Great Wall. There are fewer people here because the location is less accessible than Badaling. Surrounded by woodland and streams, this section takes on a different look in each season. Blossoming flowers in spring, flowing streams in summer, red leaves in autumn and white snow in winter make this one of the Great Walls most photographic spots.


A guard tower stands quiet sentry over the surrounding hills

The Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall
The Simatai Great Wall is located 120 kilometers (74 miles) from Beijing. It is often described with the following three words: perilous, diverse, and peculiar. This section has not been restored as much as Badaling and much of the section is in a state of ruin with exposed bricks and the ruins of watch towers. A famous specialist of Great Wall history has stated: "The Great Wall is the best of the Chinese buildings, and Simatai Section is the best of the Great Wall." This section has been named as one of the most "excellent cultural relics of the world" by UNESCO.


Steep climbing at the Simatai Section of The Great Wall

The Simatai Section of The Great Wall has not been restored

Jinshanling Great Wall
Suggested Beijing tours including hiking route of Jinshanling-Simatai Great Wall
The Jinshanling Great Wall is located 140 kilometers (87 miles) northeast of Beijing. It features complicated and well preserved fortification systems. The walls are more solid, the watchtowers are taller and it retains its original Ming Dynasty appearance. Here you can see the Wall relatively undisturbed and in its original condition. The wall follows the contours of the mountains, and stretches off into the distance. The wall has not been restored, so it has a special beauty. It is the section that foreign visitors like the most.


The Jinshanling Section of The Great Wall follows the mountain's contours

The Jinshanling Section is unrestored and a challenge to visitors

Shanhai Pass
The Shanhaiguan Great Wall, locates at Qinhuangdao which is in Hebei Province, is the east starting point of the Great Wall. It was first built in 1381 in Ming dynasty. It has the reputation of "the first pass in the world". The walls are 14 meters tall and 7 meters thick. It has very complete defense system. Standing on the Great Wall can command a panoramic view of the grand ocean and the winding Great Wall. This section is known as the Old Dragon's Head because it is the easternmost end of the Great Wall.


The Old Dragon's Head in Hebei Province

The First Gate Under Heave in the Shanhai Pass



You can visit http://www.chinaodysseytours.com to get more information about the Great Wall.
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About the Author
China Odyssey Tours - A China-based company provides tour packages for family, couple, individual & group. Help you plan & organize your tour to China according to your preferences.

Harbin - The Capital of Music in China

Author: Sandra Wu

Harbin was approved as the Capital of Music On June 22nd, 2010, and thus became the first China city that received the honor. Harbin Summer Music Concert first occurred on August 5th, 1961 and occurs every other year now. The grand music concert has received wide attention all over the world. A large number of musicians from Italy, Britain, America, Poland, Japan, Austria, Russia and South Korea and other countries attended the past concerts and put up a wide range of marvelous performances. A tour to Harbin China will definitely afford an opportunity to experience the different charm of China.


A Brief Introduction to Harbin City, China
Located in Northeast China, Harbin is the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province and also the political, economic, cultural and transportation center in the northern part of Northeast China. Harbin covers an area of roughly 53,100 square kilometers and has a population of about 9,983,400, ranking one of the largest China cities. Harbin is not only a notable historic and cultural China city but also a world-famous tourist city. Harbin is often reputed as "The Eldest Son of the Republic", "Ice City", "the Rare Pearl", "Oriental Moscow" and "Oriental Paris" and so on. With its unparalleled glamour, Harbin definitely lives up to the reputation. Take a stroll in Harbin, you will find that there are lots of graceful European-style buildings. Harbin belongs to the temperate zone and experiences the continental monsoon climate. Harbin enjoys four distinct seasons, with long frozen winters (from December to February) and short cool summers (from June to August). Though it is extremely cold in winter, winter (from December to February) is the best time to visit Harbin. Thanks to the heavy snow, Harbin in winters becomes an imaginative wonderland with a wide variety of ice sculpture. Thanks to the cool summer (from June to August), Harbin provides the travelers with an ideal summer resort. Harbin is also widely known for the rare flora and fauna in abundance, the unique fold customs and the yummy local food and so on.


The Most Famous Attractions in Harbin, China
As a perfect combination of Chinese and Western elements, Harbin is often acclaimed as "Oriental Paris" and "Oriental Moscow". Harbin also boasts the folk customs of North China. The large-scale activities, including Harbin Summer Music Concert, Ice-Lantern Show and Harbin Ice and Snow World and so on, reveal the deep culture background of Harbin. Harbin is rich in tourist attractions, among which the most famous ones include Sun Island, Zhongyang Street, Ice-Lantern Show, Yabuli Ski Resort, Saint Sophia Cathedral of Harbin, Siberian Tiger Park, Yuquan Hunting Center and Jile Buddhist Temple.
1. Sun Island is located on the northern side of Songhua River and covers an area of roughly 38 sq kilometers. Sun Island is honored as a China National AAAAA Tourist Attractions. With particularly favorable natural conditions, Sun Island boasts the different charms in different seasons. Especially in spring, Sun Island is characterized by its tranquil water, fully-blooming flowers, fresh leaves and singing birds.
2. Zhongyang Street, originally built in 1898, now is the most prosperous commercial street in Harbin. With roughly 71 elegant European-style buildings, Zhongyang Street is a unique gallery full of architecture art is constitutes one of the largest and longest commercial pedestrian street in Asia. There are a large number of boutiques selling a wide range of exquisite products.
3. Saint Sophia Cathedral of Harbin, originally built in March, 1907, is known for its splendid architecture art, long history and rich culture. The magnificent cathedral full of exotic touch draws an endless of travelers.
4. Yabuli Ski Resort, with complete facilities, is an ideal place to ski. There are totally 11 ski runs suitable for skiers at different levels. The best time to ski at Yabuli Ski Resort is from mid-November through the last third of March.
Are you looking for a travel to Harbin China which is a truly enchanting Capital of Music? Harbin will renew you with its unparalleled elegance and charm. A tour to Harbin China will afford a marvelous experience.

Wholesale Shopping Sites in China (Clothing and Shoes)

By Pinky Mcbanon

China produces items in bulk scale and so wholesale markets are quite common in the big cities of China especially the capital city Beijing. At wholesale destinations, the goods can be bought at pretty low rates. These places do not accept credit cards so you have to carry enough cash with you also as these places are crowded; you have to be extra careful about the pickpockets.
Clothing and shoes are two items very much in demand all thorough the year globally and in China too you will find many wholesale stores dealing in ready made garments as well as fabrics and shoes.
Muxiyuan Fabric Market in the Fengtai district is the best place to shop for cashmere, linen, lace, silks and brocades. Most of the shops sell fabrics in rolls of 100 meters but few shops also sell by meter. Watches, clocks, belts, wallets, handbags, cosmetics, hosiery, innerwear, buttons, zips and even stationery items can be bought here. If you are looking for ready made garments in the Fengtai District then head for the Great Red Gates Costumes Wholesale Market. Dahongmen Clothing and Shandong are other wholesale markets in the Muxiyuan area.
There are many wholesale shops near the Beijing Zoo where clothes and shoes are sold. From this place clothes and shoes and other commodities are sent to northern China. Ornaments, men's suits, shoes, ladies clothes are found here. The most famous wholesale market here is the Tinale Costumes Wholesale Market; here you can get latest fashion clothes at fabulous discounts. Tin Lok Wholesale Market is also located in the zoo district and enjoys the reputation of being the least expensive wholesale clothing market in the world. Other markets in the area are Dongding, and Jinkai Li. The shops operate from 4:30 am to 06:00 pm.
Shanghai is already known as a paradise for shoppers. There are many impressive stores and malls in Shanghai as well as budget friendly wholesale destinations. If you are a diehard clothes shopper visiting Shanghai then head for the Qipu Wholesale Market. This market comprises of three buildings located close to each other. Each building has many floors and the best thing about them is that they are centrally air-conditioned. Goods are available in bulk or in small quantities whichever you prefer and the prices are amazingly low.
For latest fashion clothes in Shenzhen city, visit the Guangzhou district. This place features wholesale areas where good quality apparel and shoes are sold for cheap prices.

About the Author
Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world!
Her blogs and websites focuses on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home, build home-based business http://www.mommyisworkingathome.com.
Visit her Interesting Site on Asian Travels and Destinations. Discover Asia's Culture and Great Food! at http://www.goingplacesinasia.com


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