The Great Wall of China was built as a fortification against invading Mongol tribes. One of the largest man-made structure, it is said to be discernable from space. It certainly is a big tourist attraction.
In reality the Great Wall is not a continuous wall but a collection of shorter walls going up and down the crest of hills bordering southern Mongolian plains. Overall the wall runs about 2400 km. The first set of walls was made of earth and stones in wood frames during the Qin Dynasty in 221-206 BCE.
Western world found the Great Wall a telling human achievement and growing contacts with China from 17th century onwards turned it into a fascinating tourism spot. With tourism came restoration and
rebuilding that continues on and off. In 1987 the Great Wall of China was made a World Heritage Site.
Visitors book hotels in Beijing to tour the Great Wall. Foreign tourists are often offered customized tour packages convenient for staying and touring the Great Wall. Many international and local 5-star hotels offer comfortable lodging with extensive amenities and entertainment facilities.
Caption: Location of the Great Wall on Map of China
