Review on the Great Wall of China by goggly is good, but the wall has come under threat from modern life. China’s rapid development and tourism poses a serious threat to the more than 2000 year old Great Wall.
In the most visited section in Badaling, garish looking, newly built ’’passes’’ and ’’walls’’ greet tourists as vendors using bullhorns shout for them to buy bottled water and instant noodles. The Wall has long been neglected by the Chinese government as it has been considered too long, too old, and too difficult to maintain. The task is left to local jurisdiction more interested in capitalising on its tourism value than protecting it.
Less than 2500km remain of the original 6300km structure that was first built in the Qin Dynasty (206-221BC). In the early decades of Communist rule, the government had little regard for old relics and encouraged the poor farmers (like Wang Lung!) to take apart portions to build homes, schools and resevoirs.
Although the Chinese government now says that it plans to put the Wall under central government management, but China’s march towards modernization and the tourism boom that comes from increased wealth makes preservation a daunting task at Badaling and other sections now being turned into tourists traps.
The Great Wall was passed to us by previous generations. It has to be saved for the next and next and next and................