Located
in Miyun county near the town of Gubeikou,
110 kilometres from Beijing city, Gubeikou
section of the Great
Wall was a famous ancient battlefield.
In
former times, a heavily fortified fortress blocked the strategical
passage leading to the capital city. Unfortunately, the original
fortress was severely damaged, and the former gate, called "The
Iron Gate", and a part of the above-water wall were distroyed.
Across the river, the wall rises alongside the water. Remarcable
twin towers form the starting point of the wall, built to connect
the Great
Wall with the former above-water wall. Not far from the wall,
a big mound marks a martyr's cemetery. A monument was built to commemorate
soldiers killed in battle. The Battle of Gubeikou took place in
1933. The ancient defences helped the Chinese troops to bravely
resist the Japanese onslaught. Those soldiers who perished in this
battle were hastily buried beneath the mound. The event is known
in Chinese history as "The War of the Great Wall Resistance".
In
the vicinity, the ruins of the walls have been partially renovated
and made accessible to tourists. Two Great
Wall Parks are named "Panlong (coiling dragon)Hills and
"Wohu (crouching tiger) Hills".
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