Today we visited the Great Wall of China. I was awestruck at the architectural splendor of the unending wall, parts of which were initially built as early as 770 B.C. The only other man-made wonder I have visited is the Taj Mahal, but the Great Wall is in a completely different league. In the days when computer aided models and 3D imaging were things that were never imagined, the vision of these designers and engineers surpasses any modern day computer. A few things that I noticed while on the Great Wall were the uneven heights of the steps. One explanation for this could be that the King wanted to confuse the enemy if they ever climbed the wall. Some sections also had steps that were sloping in one direction, probably for the same reasons as earlier stated, or simply for easy water drainage.
On our way down from the wall, we took the Toboggan Luge ride. I was wondering if this was a smart decision by the authorities to set up a Luge ride at a location that is monumental and timeless. How can they sustain the wall and not impact the environment around it. However, a logical answer might be to generate funds that can be used to restore sections of the wall that are taking a toll due to time.
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