People clamoring to pose in front of the "Good Han" stone structure
There’s a Chinese saying that goes like this–if you haven’t been to the Great Wall of China, you are not a true Han Chinese.
不到长城非好汉
CORRECTION: Thanks to ChineseinUK for pointing this one out! The meaning of this phrase is actually–
He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.
Because of this, I was really excited to finally be able to visit the Great Wall in Beijing. It was definitely the highlight of my trip. And I seriously felt a high when we got to the area.
It is a myth that the GW is the only manmade structure that can be seen from the moon. The first Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei confirmed that it can not be seen even from space. The GW was built over by 3 dynasties, namely the: Qin, Han, and Ming dynasties.
Qin Shihuang lead the Qin Dynasty in constructing the Great Wall. After the fall of the dynasty, the Han dynasty continued the construction and extended the GW westwards through the Gobi Desert. The Ming Dynasty built the longest GW that we see today. The wall during that time originally spanned 9 provinces and 100 counties.
If you are coming from Beijing, the Great Wall that you will step on is the tourist-packed Badaling 八达岭 area. The other GW sectors are–
Souvenir shops in tourist-packed Badaling.
Juyong Guan 居庸關 (Common Dwelling Pass), 10 km before Badaling
Mutianyu 慕田峪, located at Huairou county 79 km northeast of Beijing
Simatai 司马台, located at Miyun county 140 km north-east of Beijing
Jinshanling 金山岭 (Gold Mountain), located at Ruanping county 50 km from Beijing
Huanghuacheng 黃花城 (Yellow Flower Town), 100 km north of Beijing
Gubeikou 古北口 (Old Northern Entrance), located at Miyun county 20 km northeast of Beijing
Jiankou 箭口(Arrow Entrance), located at Huairou County 73 kilometres north of Beijing
Outside Beijing, the Great Wall can be accessed through–
Shanhaiguan Pass (Mountain and Sea Pass), at Qinhuangdao City of Hebei
Huangyaguan 黃崖關 (Yellow Precipice), 28 km north of Jixian Country, 120 km north of Tianjin
By the way, entrance fees for climbing the Great Wall are as follows:
Entrance fee is 45RMB. For senior citizens and students, it is 25RMB.
You can see the 2008 Beijing Olympics One World, One Dream sign from the Badaling entrance.
And if you want to explore the GW more but are too tired to do so, you could try the sliding car ride for 30RMB! [Yes, I myself was shocked with this one.]
If you plan to climb the Great Wall soon, make sure you have a pair of good rubber shoes for the trekking. The temperature in Beijing around this time is relatively tolerable at 10°C high. The wind is chilly at the top, so it would be nice to have on a light winter jacket.
I’m afraid your Chinese is letting you down here.
The 汉 in the proverb doesn’t mean “Han Chinese” but “man”. Your translation completely missed the point, which is about those who haven’t been to the Great Wall aren’t a real man (or hero) – a bit too macho, I know.
Enjoy your stay in Beijing :)
Oh, yeah, you’re right! So that’s why my friend (who’s a girl) was telling me that the other locals were a bit “irritated” that they would want to take their picture taken in front of the Good Han rock when in fact it’s for men.
Thanks for pointing this out!
Long before the first taikonount’s mission, I already suspected that GW can’t be seen from space. GW is long, but not wide. Three-gorges dam probably can be seen from space.
Badaling is too commercialized but well, it is most accessible.
Khengsiong, yes, the Three Gorges can be seen from space.
Sadly, I haven’t been the Great Wall, but I still a true man.
It’s interesting to point out that “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” may be an ancient war-time slogan to enlist more men to defend against the Huns’ troops, and in our time it’s just a destination advertising catchphrase.
“…and in our time it’s just a destination advertising catchphrase.”
True! See, because of that, I was really excited to see the Great Wall. And I’m not even a man.
I really like the 2008 Olympic sign near the wall. It must have a hidden meaning, something like: One world one dream [yeah, you know! ... nevertheless we just built this wall (and its GFW modern sister) to make things clear...]
Hey Kailing!
I like the sign too! Well, that’s a another way of putting it. :-D