The Great wall of China - Beijing China

The only thing that is certain about the history of the Great Wall of China is that no one is 100% certain about the details. I don't know how much longer this goes on for. Hopefully not too long. The wall has been built, rebuilt, moved, shortened, lengthened, weakened, and strengthened since the 6th century BC. So consequently, it has never had one continuous identity or one single history. From the moment it began, the wall was intended to protect southern empires from northern invaders. It stretched from the coast in the east, across plains and mountains as far as the Gobi Desert in the west. And at its height, it was over 4,000 miles long and manned by over one million soldiers. The wall is on average about 26 feet high. It was originally built using compressed earth and was then reinforced during the Ming Dynasty using rocks and bricks. The remarkable structure snakes up and down near vertical precipices in the more mountainous areas. Watch or beacon towers were built at 1.3 mile intervals and smoke columns were used to indicate enemy sightings in the day or firebrands and cannons at night. These towers also served as a home to the soldiers who guarded the wall, many of whom would be there for life. The best way to see the wall near Beijing is find one of the drivers or guides who specialize in taking you to a remote spot away from the obvious official tourist places. That way you get to see the wall on your own, in the peace and surrounded by absolutely stunning mountains.