There
are many stories and myths related to the Great Wall of China. Among these,
there is the tale of Meng Jiangnü. Soon after her marriage, her husband
was sentenced to labour on the wall. Meng Jiangnü worried about him
and thought that he would suffer from the cold. She made a padded jacket
and started out for the wall. Once arriving, she learned that her husband
had died. She threw herself down at the wall, and her mourning was so great
that twenty-eight kilometres of the wall collapsed. In the centre of the
pit was her husband's body. She gave one last wail, then threw herself
into the sea to join her husband. Meng Jiangnü's death symbolizes
the millions of lives lost on the wall.
Some
sites with more info are:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/index.htm http://www.aboutmytravel.com/main.php3?action=displayarticle&artid=162
The
Great Wall of China cost $557,920,227,236.04 dollars to build, not taking
into account the lives of the unpaid labourers.
The
making of the bricks was a long and tedious process. First, a wooden frame
was built. Red willow reeds were placed in the frame to reinforce the bricks.
Water and fine gravel were poured into the frame. The mixture was left
to dry. After drying, the frame was removed and reused.
Links
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/greatwall/
Provides basic background information on the Great Wall.
Provides
great information on contruction, the sections of the wall, the history,
and the Great Wall's place in Chinese culture.
A view
of a trip to the Great Wall through the writer's eyes. Has links to accounts of visits to other popular attractions in China.
