Couple finish 13-month Great Wall hike

2007-07-29 06:43:27

On the same day the Great Wall of China was named one of the world's new seven wonders, an American-Australian couple wrapped up a hike which has taken them 13 months to walk its length.

Emma Nicholas and Brendan Fletcher reached Old Dragon's Head at Shanhai Pass in northern China's Hebei province on Saturday and were greeted with a ceremony arranged by local government officials and the China Great Wall Society.

Both were excited and Fletcher was quoted by the Guangming Daily as expressing his thanks to Chinese people who have provided both mental support and places to rest along the way.

On Saturday, the Great Wall of China was named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. The poll involved votes registered online, by telephone and text messages.

Setting off on May 31, 2006 from Jiayuguan Pass in northwestern China's Gansu province, the couple embarked on what they called a "walking the wall" adventure and aimed to travel 3,800 kilometers on foot.

They have been chronicling everything on the road in their blog, which receives many visitors, the Guangming Daily report said.

The Great Wall is the world's longest human-built structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 kilometers from Shanhai Pass, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia.

It is not one wall but is a series of structures built and restored over different periods.

The most famous and busiest part is the Badaling section in Beijing's Yanqing County. (Source: Xinhua)