As a World Cultural Heritage site, the Badaling Great Wall is a top National scenic spot. It is the most important historical and protected site, as well as being the most attractive landscape and scenery. It is No.1 out of 40 best tourist attractions in China and a nationally protected spot for tourism. Located in Yanjing County and being 60 miles away from downtown Beijing, the Badaling Great Wall can be reached along the Badaling Expressway. The Badaling Great Wall is the essence of the Great Wall and an excellent example of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty.
The Gate City of the Badaling Great Wall was established in Hongzhi 18th year (1505) in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Its East Gate was rebuilt on Jiaqing 18th year (1539 AD) in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). Emperor Jiaqing set up military camps named Chadaocheng, one and a half kilometers to the northwest of the Badaling Great Wall, where they constructed massive forces to defend the wall. The West Gate of Gate City in Badaling Great Wall was rebuilt on Wanli 10th year (1582). It took over 80 years to build the Badaling Great Wall into a heavily guarded defense system with a war flaming warning. On the Great Wall, there are cities, gates, rockmounds and bastions which connect together. It is depicted in an ancient Chinese book ‘Chang An Ke Hua’ which keeps track of local history and geography conditions, that roads are extending in so many directions that it is named Badaling, which is at peak of Guanshan Mountain.
The Badaling Great Wall is the portal of Beijing. There is a 20-kilometre long valley named Guangou Ditch in the midst of Badaling and Nankou. The Badaling locates at the highest part of the north of Guangou. Gazing on the Badaling Great Wall, it looks like a great cavorting dragon, surmounting lofty mountains. If you walk into the Guangou Ditch between two mountains, it’s extremely steep. The ancient Chinese says that “ looking down to see Juyongguan Pass from Badaling, it is like looking down a well” and “ the risk of Juyongguan Pass is not at the Gate City, but at the Badaling”. The Badaling Great Wall is of a great significance to the militarists since ancient times. Since the Qing Dynasty ( 1636—1912), the Badaling Great Wall has increasingly broken, with wrecked walls and buildings. It has been restored many times since the founding of the P.R.China in 1949.
The Badaling Great Wall experienced many major historical events. The first Emperor of Qin crossed the Jieshi Mountain, passed the Badaling via Datong, and reached Xianyang. The Empress Xiao in Liao Dynasty (906~1125) inspected along the Great Wall. The Emperor Tai-tsu in Yuan Dynasty (1206-1370) entered the central plains through the Badaling. The Emperors of Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) led their soldiers in a military operation across the Great Wall. Crossing the Great Wall was their only way to reach the central areas. Chinaman Mao said ‘he who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man’, which encouraged people to visit the Great Wall and give the site significant meaning of life. Since it opened to tourists in 1952, the Badaling Great wall has received 130 millions visitors from home and abroad. Poets and authors wrote lots of poems and essays about the Badaling. Varieties of books, calligraphies, paintings and other articles were written about the customs, the politics and wars. These are precious parts of Chinese cultural heritage. Today the magnificent Badaling Great Wall is not only an important tourist attraction, but also it creates a bond between Chinese people and people from all over the world. It also is a historical treasure that China leaves for mankind.
Badaling Great Wall Attractions
Chadao City
Badaling Great Wall Story
1、 the Beacon Tower
Dating back to West Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-771BC), Chinese people began to use beacon fire to transmit messages during wars. Stretching from the boundary to the capital beacon towers were built at regular intervals along the wall and had firewood inside. If enemies were invading the capital, beacon fires were light one by one to inform all the dukes to help.
Beacon towers were used for emergencies. An ancient historical book ‘Zhouli’ mentions that, beacon towers were built at regular intervals from the boundary to the central areas with firewood inside cages. When enemies were invading, fireworks were burnt to alarm the dukes. On the emperor’s order the capital beacon fires were lit, and warned all the dukes to lead their troops to the rescue.
2、 Beacon Fire fooled the dukes
Emperor You of Zhou was the last emperor of the West Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-771BC). Baosi was his lovable concubine who did not like to smile.
One day Emperor You told Baosi about the beacon tower which can transmit the alarm to sub kingdoms in case of war and dukes of each kingdom would send troops to help.
Baosi didn’t believe it. So Emperor You gave the order to light the beacon fire. Dukes of different kingdoms saw the fire and led their troops to the capital immediately. They didn’t see any enemy but only Emperor You and his lovable concubine who were drinking. They knew they had been fooled. Baosi saw that the powerful dukes were so embarrassed. She couldn’t help but smile a little. Emperor You was surprised to see her smile. He ordered the soldier to set the fire several times and made the dukes lead their troops back and forth. Gradually they didn’t believe that the fire was an alarm and didn’t come at all.
Before long, the capital was attacked by Duke Shen. Emperor You gave the order to light the beacon fire but no dukes believed it. No troops came and helped. The capital was seized by the enemy in no time and Emperor You was killed.
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