The "Vanishing" Great Wall

[Randy W]

Not sure why this would be a "shock", but here it is from the People's Daily. Still, it's interesting to hear about "other" parts of the Great Wall, some of which out west had long ago just about faded into sand dunes, and other parts which are underwater.

 

Report on vanishing Great Wall shocks the country

 

These are from other sources -

 

 

Edited June 7, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Quote

According to the report by Beijing Times, only around 8 percent of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty is well-preserved. Human destruction, illegal trade or the practice of stealing bricks from the Great Wall have threatened the conservation of the heritage.

Edited June 27, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from the Great Wall Forum - http://www.greatwallforum.com/forum/gaotai/406-gaotai-hei-he-great-wall.html

Great Wall Forum is temporarily closed.

Edited September 15, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

. . . and rebuilding it. From the SCMP. Juan Valdez would be proud!

 

Craftsmen help to restore China’s Great Wall brick by ancient brick

Engineers and bricklayers scale perilous peaks armed only with basic tools to breathe new life into one of the undisputed wonders of the world

 

 

“The path is too steep and the mountains are too high, so the bricks can only be transported by mules,” said local mule owner Cao Xinhua, who has worked on Great Wall restoration projects in the mountains north of Beijing for 10 years.

 

Where they could, workers used the original bricks that had broken off the wall over the centuries. When they found none, they used new bricks made to exacting specifications.

 

. . .

 

A government clampdown on pollution has forced the closure of almost all brick-making factories in Beijing and nearby provinces, Cheng said.

 

. . .

 

The restoration began in 2005 and is now in its third phase, making slow progress because the uneven terrain allows use only of basic tools such as chisels, hammers, pickaxes and shovels.

Authorities’ meticulous approach followed widespread outrage last year sparked by botched restoration efforts on some stretches.

 

 

 

[Randy W]

The video on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/vb.355665009819/10155363760374820/?type=2&theater

Edited January 3, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Check out the renovation site of the "Great Wall Under Water" that emerges out of the Panjiakou Reservoir in north China's Hebei Province, June 3, 2021. This section of Great Wall built in ancient China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) hid underwater following the building of the Panjiakou Reservoir in the 1970s. But sharp decline of the reservoir's water level brings it above the water from time to time.  (Xinhua/MuYu)

from Fly Over China/Xinhua on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/1006829009506673/posts/1609710192551882/

Edit 6/14/2021: That Facebook post "disappeared" awfully quickly - here's a YouTube video on the same subject, also from Xinhua, but a year earlier

Renovating an underwater section of the Great Wall

 

and this from 2016

and from the WSJ in 2012, also Panjiakou

Edited June 14, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 

Another section of the "Vanishing" Great Wall from Chinasights on Instagram 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CP6YmV-B36e/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by China Sights (@chinasights)

 

[Randy W]

Remains of a Great Wall castle, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644), were discovered with more than 30 full-sized lively clay statues found at the remains of the Qingpingbao castle in Yulin City, NW China's Shaanxi Province.

from CGTN on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaGlobalTVNetwork/posts/6473021219405310

and the Global Times

Great Wall castle remains discovered in China's Shaanxi

Undated aerial photo shows the site of a temple called Xianying Palace at the remains of the Qingpingbao castle, located in Jingbian County, Yulin City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The remains of a Great Wall castle dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, said the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology Tuesday. Architectural relics, including two courtyards, were found at the remains of the Qingpingbao castle.(Photo: Xinhua)

Quote

The castle is about 10 km away from the Great Wall, built in the Ming Dynasty. It retains the pattern, style, and characteristics of the Ming Wall castle. It is well preserved in terms of its original appearance in northern Shaanxi.

 

Edited June 19, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 

Chinese officials have unveiled the discovery of a Ming dynasty Great Wall fort site in northwest #Shaanxi province 🏰.  Qingping Fort was unearthed in April 2020 in #Yulin city. Since then, the Shaanxi Academy of #Archaeology has been carrying out excavations that uncovered two well-preserved courtyards, including one measuring 60 metres by 25 metres. An inscription found at the site shows the courtyard was a temple called Xianying Palace.
The site, located 10km from the Great Wall, was abandoned during the reign of Emporer Kangxi during the Qing Dynasty. The fort had been buried in sand, allowing for the preservation of the structure's original layout and unique features. 
Learn more about this amazing discovery and unique artefact of Chinese #history in the video below!

https://www.facebook.com/ChinainBelgium/posts/5637829396287591

[Randy W]

The Shandan section of the #GreatWall is set amid the vast Gobi Desert in northwest China's Gansu Province, its crumbling, sand-colored structure looming over the ancient village of Xiakou.
Unlike the famous Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, which is built of solid rectangular rampart bricks, the Shandan section is made of rammed earth and is seriously eroded in places.
However, the scene of parched decay is relieved by large swathes of apricot orchard, planted on either side of the wall by local residents over the past several years. It is one sign of ongoing efforts to rejuvenate this age-old site -- and they are finally bearing fruit.
Since 2014, over 770 hectares of apricot trees have been planted by the villagers of Xiakou in Shandan County, in the city of Zhangye, to protect the wall, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
In 2019, the Chinese government launched a campaign of constructing national cultural parks near sections of the Great Wall across the country. The Shandan section was included in the first batch of Great Wall sections to be placed under priority protection. The Xiakou section will be restored within the year, according to the plan.
Shandan County plans to build a sightseeing trail along the wall, and supporting facilities such as a tourist center will also be constructed.

from China Pictorial on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaPic/posts/3981087975349895

[Randy W]

Our customer hiking on the Great Wall today 😎😎

from China Highlights on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaHighlights/posts/10159393695427964

At least they have a customer

[Randy W]

The unrestored Great Wall on the top of mountains, Tread the centuries-old bricks and walk through watchtower ruins. Feel the history come to life.
📍The Great Wall, Beijing, China
📸@Getty images

from China Highlights on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaHighlights/posts/pfbid02Se37RNCZ4hLhE55LgwfbiNWhQSNhhVySMBx2zScRqMDEeXbCfHfZ2wrqpWmEqgEKl