Travelogue: A Journey to the Great Wall of China

Every tourist setting foot in China has a common dream - to visit the Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the world. How could I be an exception to the desire to see the Great Wall, counted among the few wonders of the world?

From the moment I landed in Beijing, my constant question to the Nepali community living there was - 'When are we going to the Great Wall?' My lifelong dream, mentioned since childhood in books and general knowledge as the only man-made object visible from the moon to Earth, was finally going to be fulfilled. The Beijing Language and Cultural University, which hosted me, arranged for my trip to the Great Wall. This further fueled my desire.

I only realized much later that the idea of it being visible from the moon was just a popular myth. Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei had already clarified in 2003 that the Great Wall was not visible from space. That information reached our villages much later.

However, this fact did not diminish the glory and grandeur of the Great Wall in the least. Decorating my mind with images of this massive wall snaking over the peaks of the mountains north of Beijing, we set off towards Badaling. All the way, I was recalling those pages of Chinese history where various dynasties built this structure, thousands of kilometers long, to protect themselves from external invasions.

A glorious history of the world was interacting with me. Although the initial climb was a bit steep, the views on either side did not let me feel tired.

As the parts of the wall, appearing like white stripes on distant mountains, began to appear from the car window, my excitement grew. The weather was very clear on the day we arrived, and under the blue sky, the gray stone wall looked like a giant python sleeping.

As soon as we reached the entrance of the Great Wall, a large crowd of tourists was visible. People from all over the world seemed eager to see this unique example of Chinese engineering. Their eyes were eager to behold the beauty of the Great Wall and their feet longed to step upon it. The crowd of people who came from various countries to see the Great Wall was immense.

As soon as I stepped forward from the entrance, a different kind of energy surged through my body. My heart was overjoyed to be physically present in such a unique place in the world. Stepping on the wide path made of stones and bricks, it felt like I was walking on a living piece of history.

A glorious history of the world was interacting with me. Although the initial climb was a bit steep, the views on either side did not let me feel tired. Moreover, seeing our distinct faces, some Chinese people even requested, 'Can we take a photo with foreigners?' This was a very unique experience for my brother Prashant and me.

The 'watchtowers' located at every few meters on the Great Wall gave a glimpse of how strong the security system must have been in ancient times. The cool breeze entering through the windows of those towers and the sight of the surrounding green mountains filled my heart with joy. I truly felt why people all over the world are so enthusiastic about the Great Wall.

In an era without modern machines and technology, how were these massive stones transported to the mountaintops? How much human sweat and blood must have been mixed in it?

The higher we climbed, the narrower and steeper the wall became. The crowd of people was equally dense. In some places, the stairs were so steep that one had to climb by holding on with their hands. From the elderly to small children, everyone was seen climbing up, wiping sweat and encouraging each other. Despite the fatigue, their faces showed joy at being able to climb the Great Wall. Most tourists were busy taking breaks and photos in between. I also did not forget to take out my mobile; photos taken from every angle captured the vastness of the Great Wall and the depth of the mountains.

We neither had the time nor the energy to complete the entire Great Wall. However, when I reached a tower at a certain height and looked back, oh my! Fear made my heart flutter. Seeing the wall stretching to unknown distances, piercing the mountain peaks, one could not help but be humbled by human labor and determination. It was not built in days, months, or even years, but through hundreds of years of dedication and resolve.

In an era without modern machines and technology, how were these massive stones transported to the mountaintops? How much human sweat and blood must have been mixed in it? These questions stirred deep curiosity in my mind.

After a few hours of this difficult but exciting trek, when we reached a certain point and rested, I realized - this is not just a wall, but a symbol of Chinese civilization's patience and strength. The actual length of the Great Wall, built over about 276 years during the Ming Dynasty, is 8,851 kilometers.

Standing beside that massive structure, many pages of history began to unfold in my mind. The Great Wall seemed to connect the China of that time with the modern China of today like a strong bridge. The wind was a bit strong in that section of Badaling, which gradually dried the sweat from our bodies, providing a sense of coolness. Seeing this structure built by utilizing the greenery spread across the surrounding hills and the very formation of those mountains evoked respect for the art and engineering knowledge of ancient architects.

China has put in a lot of effort to make this place, connected with China's history, a strong base for tourism. Those who could not climb the wall could also go by cable car. Underground cable cars are also being constructed now.

My brother Prashant and I also sat in a corner there, lost in thought, gazing at the wall extending to the distant horizon. Words were silent at that moment, but there was a wonderful peace and contentment within my heart.

According to the local guide who was showing us around, rice flour and lime mixture was used as a binding agent in making this wall, which is why it remains strong and intact even after hundreds of years. Amidst the tourist crowd, some people were proudly holding Chinese flags and chanting 'Zhongguo Wansui' (Long live China). Seeing their patriotism and attachment to their heritage reminded me of the need to preserve the historical heritage of my own country.

My brother Prashant and I also sat in a corner there, lost in thought, gazing at the wall extending to the distant horizon. Words were silent at that moment, but there was a wonderful peace and contentment within my heart. Although the childhood illusion of 'the object visible from the moon' had been shattered by standing on the ground of truth today, the impression left by this man-made wonder on my mind was certain to be indelible. As evening approached, the sky's color deepened slightly, and the sun's last rays cast a golden glow on the stones of the wall.

As I slowly descended, I felt - the Great Wall is not just a pile of stones and mud, it is a story of indomitable human willpower. The determination shown by the ancient Chinese for the defense of their motherland is still alive in these massive stones today. On our way back, some elderly Chinese people smiled and greeted us with 'Ni Hao' (Hello), which made our journey more intimate. The curiosity from a few hours ago had now transformed into a pleasant experience and memory. As we returned to the main entrance and headed towards the car, one thought kept running through my mind - nothing is impossible in the world if people have strong determination and collective unity.