Great Wall of China

Goodness gracious, Great Wall of China! (beautifully sung like an amazing 50s classic)

Wednesdays are all about wishing big, and the Great Wall definitely qualifies. Two-thousand years went in to the construction of this 5,500 mile-long wonder.

So the question isn't really if you visit the Wall, but which part?

The Great Wall stretches across China from east to west, beginning in Hushan in Liaoning to Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu.

And it turns out you can't see the Great Wall from space like we were all told as children. (Will the lies ever end?) Though its length is clearly impressive, the average width is 11 feet with an average height of 21 feet.

The Wall was originally built, in sections, as military defense against the northern nomadic tribes. And though it no longer serves as protection, it is the world's largest national military project built during the Iron Age.

I've already mentioned the 2,000 years it took to build such a well-known landmark. During that process, many workers died and were buried within the wall to save money on burials and offer strong building materials. So I guess you could literally say China's blood, sweat, and tears went into building this fortress.

Just don't let your blood become a part of this legacy. The Wall winds through China like a dragon, according to Chinese culture. And due to the precarious state of the Wall (it's ancient after all), many tourists have lost their lives from falling bricks or with one misstep over the edge.

Maybe that's how Mulan and Eddie Murphy really defeated those Huns.

Follow the Moose Trail:
Twitter @KaitlinMoose

Have you visited the Great Wall of China? And if so, which part? Let me know with a comment below!

And if you liked this post, don't forget to share it with your friends! Thanks and happy Wishful Wednesday!