Beijing, China

The Great Wall of China

5,500 milesCrosses 3 geographical regions: Western- Gobi Desert (now in ruin)

Central- Ordos Steppes (mud)East- precipitous mountains to Pacific Ocean

Construction

WatchtowersWooden framesTampered EarthBrickwork (brick walls)Kilns- mass brick

production

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)

First Emperor- Qin Shih HuangUnified China (6 new states)First unified kingdom in Chinese historyBuilt to defend from Mongolian Hsiong nu (Huns)Connection of previously-built walls

Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD)

Still bothered by HunsTried to open diplomatic relations“Too shameful”- stoppedWall repaired, sections added for expansion West across Gobi DesertProtect Silk Road’s markets

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD)

“Modern” wallsMing suffered disturbances (Dadan, Tufan, Nuzhen)Forbade any foreign contact in 16th centuryUp to 25 ft. Guard stations, watchtowers

Mutianyu2.5 kilometers22 watchtowersValleysGraniteNomadic tribesQi Dynasty (550-577)Ming Dynasty-reconstructed

Tourism

17th-20th Centuries: Growing Western contact with China 1987: World Heritage Site (UNESCO)50-mile Beijing Portion receives 1,000s of tourists daily

Tiananmen Square

Gate of Heavenly Peace1420-OriginalSymbol of modern ChinaGatehouse of Ming and Qing DynastiesOriginal gate of Forbidden City

Golden Water Bridge

7 white marble bridges Central: widest Central: for emperor

Platform, tower- 5 arch waysCentral: largest, for emperorsSides: smaller, for ministers, officialsMao portrait“Long Live the People’s Republic of China”“Long Live the Great Unity of the World’s Peoples”

Lions 2 Outside Gate 2 Guarding Bridges Protection from evil spirits

Huabiao Central archway 2 Stone columns Dragon designs

“Wangtianhou” decoration

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

East of square Clay figures: New Democracy, socialist construction period Mao statue- North Great Hall Crystal Coffin Black granite baseCorpse- embalmed. Internal organs- Formaldehyde

Monument to People’s Heroes

Completed 1958 Dedicated to those who died fighting Cornerstone by Mao & Zhu De Middle of old Imperial Pathway Break with feudal dynastic past

Student Protests

1989April 15 Hu Yaobang diesDemand DemocracyGovernment reformChinese Political Party-CorruptionCivil Disobedience

June 4 Massacre June 3: Troops toward Center BarricadesGovernment Army vs.. Civilians Civilians killed Unknown death toll: 200 (Chen, Mayor)- 2,600 (Red Cross)

Tourism

1,000s Daily Relaxing: kites, walks Holidays: covered in flowers

Bibliographyhttp://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/greatwall.htmChina Travel Guide http://www.travelchinaguide.comMutianyu Great Wall http://www.mutianyugreatwall.netKerns, Ann. Who Will Shout If Not Us? Minneapolis, MN USA:Lerner Publishing Group Inc., 2011. Print.The China Guide. Tiananmen Square. Beijing Freedom Travel Agency. 2010. Web. http://www.thebeijingguide.com/tiananmen_square/index.html Kristof, Nicholas D. “Tiananmen Square.” New York Times. May 22, 2009. Print. “1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square.” On This Day BBC News. Web.