The Great Wall Myth

great wall of china facts

It is common mistake to say that The Great Wall of China is visible from outer space.   One of many treasures located in Asia, it is a commonly stated myth and cultural idea that the wall is visible from space and galaxies.  It is too thin to be noticed from such a great distance.  There are no man made structures that are visible from space or moon.  Man made objects start to disappear after 300 miles up.

From that distance you can barely see the outline of the Great China Wall. If we consider that distance from Earth to Moon is around 384,403 kilometers/238,857 miles then we can draw reasonable conclusion that it would be impossible to see any man-made structures from such a distance.  Astronaut Alan Bean said: “The only thing you can see from the moon is a beautiful sphere, mostly white (clouds), some blue (ocean), patches of yellow (deserts), and every once in a while some green vegetation.  No man-made object is visible on this scale.  In fact, when first leaving earth’s orbit and only a few thousand miles away, no man-made object is visible at that point either.”

One of the largest monuments to international security in the world, China’s Great Wall of China covers for more than 5,500 kilometers from east China to Mongolia in the west. The grandest tourist attractions of this wall are its impressive structures such as the imposing Three Gorges and the stunning Jiaojie Pagoda. These buildings have been a source of inspiration and interest for Chinese art, culture, literature, and art museums for centuries. The Three Gorges is a large and beautiful natural dam that rises from the centre of a valley on the western side of the wall, with its two tiers of stone pillars connected by canyons and waterfalls. In fact, it is believed to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Great Wall of China, also known as the Yangtse River Wall, was completed during the third and fourth centuries BC during the early dynastic period. It is believed to have been the largest of its kind ever constructed. The history of these ancient structures is shrouded in mystery and legend. Accounts describe that the wall was built during the reign of Emperor Yu the Great and continued to be built during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, another legendary figure. However, most historians believe that the first building of this structure was a small one on the east side of the main entrance of Xian during the sixth century BC. This small structure was known as the Huangdi Gate and is considered to be the very foundation of today’s Great Wall.

The history of Great Wall of China is a complex one. In fact, it is one of those places in the world that is constantly evolving and changing with the times. The wall of today can be easily compared to that of the ancient wall and is made up of layers of brick and stone. A number of people believe that this structure was originally built during the ancient Shang Dynasty (c. 1270 BC). Although there has been debate between Chinese and Western historians about this, most agree that the wall was built during the Song Dynasty. There is even evidence that suggests that the Great Wall was built in an attempt to protect the city of Xian from external attacks. During this time, Chinese soldiers were hired to defend the city against foreign invaders and they were given the task of building a great wall around the city.

Can I see the Great Wall of China from space?

It is common mistake to say that The Great Wall of China is visible from outer space.   One of many treasures located in Asia, it is a commonly stated myth and cultural idea that the wall is visible from space and galaxies.  It is too thin to be noticed from such a great distance.  There are no man made structures that are visible from space or moon.  Man made objects start to disappear after 300 miles up.

Great Wall Of China


Areas of China’s Great Wall will be open for tourists, according for a report by state press agency. Tourists have been able to access 30 kilometers of the construction around, although the Great Wall of China is a few 21, 196 kilometers long. More on CNN: Great Wall of China – authorities will open Great Wall to travelers To adapt visitor numbers during vacations and weekends. Access to areas is aimed at preventing injury by tourists climbing segments of the wall, said chief of Beijings relics agency, Kong Fanzhi. A Huanghuacheng section and a segment that is Hefangduan are due to get tourists, but governments are yet to declare when they’ll be open.

Presently, travellers Can visit four segments of the Great Wall: Badaling (), Juyongguan (), Simatai () plus Mutianyu (). All are near Beijing. See the map above for their places. Visitors to these websites, which were restored complain of tours, armies and competitive touts. To circumvent hassles and admire the majesty of the fortification that is huge, here are six suggestions for ways to take in China’s Great Wall. The high flyer: Great Wall helicopter tour – Badaling is known for queues and tourist groups. Fly over them, the view is better. HNA Capital Helicopter, a subsidiary of Hainan Air, lets travellers view the Great Wall of China from the air, out the window of a six seat AS350B3 chopper. 

The flight soars over the Great Walls guard towers plus ramparts, plus provides a possibility of taking unreal aerial shots of the construction snaking off into the distance. Flying comes at a price. The cheapest alternative is RMB 1, 500 per person for a mere fifteen minutes. Helicopters takes off at Badaling Airport, which is six kilometers, or a 15 minute drive, northwest of Badaling. Tours usually last around fifteen minutes, but could be extended up to a hour for a higher fee. Passports are required for the flight. Reserve a trip a few days at advance.

More on CNN: Dos and dont’s in the Great Wall of China – Along the dragons back: Wild Great Wall of China tour – Erected for ward off pesky barbarians, the Great Wall of China extends from the shore of Hebei far inland to the Gobi Desert. Most of it remains standing, but just small segments have been restored for tourism. The places around Beijing are popular with Disneyland, Says Nellie Connolly, advertising manager of Beijing based travel company WildChina. Once you get even Further away from Beijing, you will find several people, adds Connolly.

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