2008-10-10

Posted at 13:54 UT by Tamara

SEGMENT 324
Beijing, China
The Jade Factory
The Great Wall of China
Part 7 of a 15 part series on China

http://GreatGetawaysoftheWorld.blogspot.com

We visit a factory where Jade is carved, polished, and created into forms of sculpture, jewelry, and meaningful objects.

The factory tour guide describes some of the significance behind the objects being created, and an astounding look at the beautiful artwork created from jade, which is followed by the opportunity to purchase bracelets, necklaces, and other works.

We continue for several hours to the Great Wall, one of the best re-built sections nestled in scenic mountains, where large crowds of people funnel through and enjoy walking for miles along the stone walls.

According to China Spree, "The original wall was begun in the 5th century B.C. to keep out foreign invaders."

Many sections of wall were also constructed during the warring states periods to keep out other Chinese as well, these walls later largely torn down.

" Construction continued for centuries, eventually linking up the walls of the former independent kingdoms. The Great Wall meanders through China's northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert, a distance of over 3500 miles."

Chairman Mao once said " If you haven't walked on the Wall, you haven't been a good Chinese." Now the phrase is "If you haven't walked the Great Wall, you haven't been to China."

These great walls were built on the lives of the Chinese people, many buried within the wall itself, their spirits still walking the walls, their suffering still felt beneath the stones.

Walls cannot keep evil out, nor a people in.

Airing Schedule for
SEGMENT 324
Part 7 in the 15 part series on China

Tuesday, December 9th
5:30 p.m. news primetime
and again at
2:00 a.m.
when all other programming goes off the air.

Friday, December 12th
5:30 p.m. news primetime
and again at
2:00 a.m.
when all other programming goes off the air.

Labels: CHINA - 16 Part Mini-Series - GREAT GETAWAYS of the WORLD