How much of the Great Wall of China is actually standing?

Question

Haven't you noticed, that when you see pictures of the Great Wall of China, it's always the same stretch, the one they take tourists to see north of Beijing? How much of the rest of it is still standing?

The point is, Fred, that if you're correct, then cultural nationalism and the capitalist imperative of tourism have got together to produce something out of George Orwell. Imagine if the British Government bussed tourists up to Housesteads to see the same stretch of Hadrian's wall and give them the impression the whole thing was like that?

Answer 1

Much of it is in a bad state of repair but other parts have been restored & those are the parts the tourists see. Most of the non-restored parts are in remote areas which tourists never visit. It is a miracle that a historic monument of that age is even recogniseable after all these years let alone still there albeit in parts.

Answer 2

The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built by humans. Completed in the 200s BC to defend China from northern invaders, the Great Wall winds for over 6,400 km, linking up stretches of old walls with new sections. Thousands of people died while building it, which is why it came to be called the longest cemetery in the world.

Answer 3

quite a bit. But most if it is quite remote. But as most people visiting mainland China invariably go to Beijing, that's the most likely popular part of the wall.

I found the wall quite awesome, but the zany commercialization was hilarious. Camels and such for picture-taking. But the cable car going up was quite thrilling, very shaky and rickety, and it was swaying in the wind like all get out.

I loved it there.

Answer 4

Very little. There are a few places where it has been renovated for tourists. What place did you think they would put in their brochures, the non-existent or non-renovated places? What is your point?