From the Peaks to the Valleys the Wall was most Everywhere

  Peering from the tops of mountain peaks, I often marveled over how the path the Wall took crossing this part of China was truly amazing.  At the same time, I acknowledged to myself just how far I had come.  Apparently, there are no records of the length of the Qin Dynasty walls. I don't know how they could have ever measured the length anyway. GPS wouldn't be invented for another thousand years. In fact, it hadn't been invented yet when I was hiking the Wall.  Most of those ancient Qin walls have eroded away over the centuries and very few original sections remain today. I was seldom sure whether I was on a Qin Dynasty Wall or a Ming Dynasty Wall, although history suggests I was following Ming walls. Not that it mattered; after all, how old does something need to be before it is considered ancient?  

Contrary to Beliefs . . .

  Contrary to common belief, the Great Wall is not a continuous line. There are north to south walls, east to west walls, circular walls, parallel walls, and sections with no walls at all in the rugged mountains.  There are places where steep rock cliffs took its place, and where rivers formed an impassable barrier providing no need for the Wall.

  Also, contrary to common belief, the First Emperor of Qin was not the first ruler to build the Wall but linked the northern walls of the states he conquered.

  And finally, contrary to common belief, the Great Wall cannot be seen from space by the human eye without some type of visual aid.

Photographed in 1986.