Exploring the Great Wall: Ascending Badaling to Uncover the Wonders of Ancient Chinese Architectur

Summary

In this video, the host embarks on a journey to the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China, one of its most iconic and well-preserved parts. Starting from Beijing, they take bus 877 to the Deshengmen bus station and then ride the sliding car to the Wall. The video showcases the Wall's historical significance, its strategic towers, and the breathtaking views from the highest point. After a memorable experience, they descend, purchase commemorative medals, and return to Beijing, reflecting on the Wall's ancient construction and the resilience of its builders.

Takeaways

• 🚌 The journey to the Great Wall begins with taking the bus 877 from Deshengmen bus station in Beijing.
• 🏰 The Badaling section of the Great Wall is the destination, known for its strategic location and well-preserved condition.
• 🕰 The entire bus ride to the Great Wall is approximately an hour and a half long with no stops in between.
• 🎫 Upon arrival, visitors need to line up to buy tickets for entry to the Great Wall.
• 🚡 To reach the Great Wall, a sliding car is used for transportation, taking about ten minutes.
• 🏞 The Badaling Great Wall was constructed during the Ming Dynasty and holds significant cultural and historical value.
• 🔭 The wall is divided into southern and northern sections, with tourists generally preferring the northern section.
• 📍 The highest point visited is the eighth tower on the northern side, offering a view of the wall stretching into the distance.
• 🏹 The towers along the Great Wall served as key defense structures, with various roles including scouting and housing soldiers.
• 🛍️ Commemorative medals are available for purchase as keepsakes at the Great Wall.
• 🔙 After reaching the highest point, visitors return via a more walkable footpath constructed alongside the Wall.

Q & A

What mode of transportation does the narrator choose to reach the Great Wall?

The narrator chooses to take a bus, specifically the bus number 877, from Deshengmen bus station in Beijing to the Great Wall.

What is the historical significance of the Great Wall?

The Great Wall is an ancient Chinese military defense project that started over two thousand years ago and has a total length of about 21,000 kilometers.

Which section of the Great Wall are they visiting?

They are visiting the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is one of the most famous and well-preserved sections.

How long does the bus journey to the Badaling Great Wall take?

The bus journey to the Badaling Great Wall takes about an hour and a half without any stops in between.

What is the purpose of the towers along the Great Wall?

The towers along the Great Wall are key parts of its defense system, used for scouting for enemies, signaling, storing supplies, and housing soldiers.

What is the highest point of the Badaling Great Wall that the narrator aims to reach?

The highest point they aim to reach is the eighth tower on the north side of the Badaling Great Wall.

What is the difference between the southern and northern sections of the Badaling Great Wall?

The northern section is generally preferred by tourists, while the southern section is steeper and less frequented by visitors.

What is the experience like on the sliding car to the Great Wall?

The sliding car takes about ten minutes, is not too fast, but provides a fun experience on the way to the Great Wall.

What challenges did the ancient workers face while constructing the Great Wall?

Ancient workers faced challenges such as manually transporting heavy materials across difficult terrains, enduring harsh weather conditions, and the threat of attacks from nomadic tribes.

What is the significance of the commemorative medal sold at the Great Wall?

The commemorative medal serves as a keepsake for visitors, with an engraving of their name and the date, symbolizing their achievement of reaching the Great Wall.

How does the narrator describe the path of the Great Wall?

The narrator describes the path as challenging with ups and downs, even though it is considered the smoothest part of the Great Wall, and it is hard to imagine how it was built.