By Stephen Asante
GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing, China
Beijing, March 23, GNA – The Chinese have a famous saying that: “He who does not reach the Great Wall is no hero.”
In truism, this maxim, originally drawn from one of Mao Zedong’s(Chinese modern leader who united and reformed the nation) whose poems, have been the motivational factor behind every tourist and visitor’s determination to get to the summit of this age-old UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
For adventurers, surmounting this all-important Wall is not for the faint-hearted. It is really a herculean task – one that demands courage, tenacity of purpose and resilience.
The mere sight of climbing this imposing Wall simply puts some visitors off, especially for those who are afraid of height.
“I have been here on two occasions, but each time, I find it extremely difficult in getting to the peak of the Wall,” Patricia Esami Lubba, a Nigerian journalist, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, after her visit to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall.
The magnificent edifice, stretching across the rugged landscapes of northern China, stands as one of the most iconic symbols of China’s rich history and cultural heritage.
It is not only a marvel of ancient engineering, but also a testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of the Chinese people.
This historic wonder, which stretches over 13, 000 kilometers, provides amazing views, an engrossing history, and a window into the Asian giant’s rich cultural legacy.
“In 1987, the Great Wall was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and since then, it has attracted millions of curious visitors across the world,” Xie Wd, Deputy Director at the Chinese Cultural Center for Diplomatic Missions, told the GNA.
In 2024 alone, over one million domestic and international tourists paid a visit to the Wall, contributing significantly to China’s overall economic Gross Domestic Product, the Cultural Officer noted.
It is important to note that tourism has become an essential contributor to the Asian giant’s overall GDP, particularly since the beginning of the country’s opening up reforms in the late 1970’s.
Regular visits to some historical sites, including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Grand Canal, have been the feature of China’s growing tourism industry.
Last year, the total revenue from tourism alone was estimated to be around 6.4 trillion yuan(about $883 billion), with the 2021, 2022, and 2023 revenues estimated to be nearly generated by domestic tourism, according to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics.
In separate interviews, some visitors to the Great Wall, in sharing their experiences, recounted their excitements, wanting to visit the historical site again if the opportunity presented itself.
“My visit here today will forever remain in my memories, because I was able to accomplish my long-cherished desire of reaching the top of the Wall,” Guo Junyou, a 14-year-old student of the Liang Xiang High School, Beijing, told the GNA.
Shirley Shao, a student of the Beijing Foreign Studies University, described herself as a heroine having reached the summit of the Wall on the two occasions she visited.
Some striking features catching the attention of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site range from the Land Deity Temple, Mountain Deity Temple, City God Temple, Guan Yu Military Wealth Deity, South Barbican to the North Gate Barbican.
The City Deity Hall, as well as the Ancient Cannon, which signified the Chinese people’s military might, especially in the Ming Dynasty, also cannot be glossed over on one’s visit to the Great Wall.
Given the historical, cultural and socio-economic importance of the Wall to the evolution of the Chinese society, it comes as no surprise the determination of the Government to protect one of the world’s most iconic tourist attraction sites.
President Xi Jinping, on the safeguarding of the country’s tourism pride, has said: “It is our common responsibility to protect and pass on this historic and cultural heritage.”
An excerpt from the President’s reply letter to villagers living at the foot of the Badaling section of the Heritage Site, in 2024, reads: “I hope that the villagers will continue protecting the Great Wall as they protect their homes, carry forward the Great Wall culture and tell stories about the Great Wall well.
We need to study the characteristics of Chinese civilisation and culture, and from a comprehensive system of ideas rooted in Chinese culture.”
It is an undeniable fact that one’s visit to China will not be complete without a visit to the Great Wall, a representative symbol of the nation, and also an important symbol of Chinese civilisation.
GNA
SOF