THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA - 5
The Great Wall and the Manchu conquest of China

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Formerly the Nankow Pass was the great commercial highway to and from Mongolia. It was then an excellent stone road, laid with great blocks of granite, or cut into the rocky hills, over which carts could travel. It is now a rough and almost dangerous path, where carts do not attempt to pass; the merchandise is still transported on pack-animals, ponies, mules, donkeys, and camels, and of these there is an endless succession of caravans from dawn till sunset. The hardy Mongols, men and women, with darkened and weather-wrinkled visage, sway easily to the long strides of their camels, and look upon foreigners with not unfriendly curiosity. They bring furs, and camels hair, and wool, and droves of ponies, sheep, and mules. At Peking they go to the Mongol camp near the British Legation, where they dispose of their goods, carrying home in return, besides other products, fine silks, rich in color and gorgeous gold or silver brocades, such as are specially made in China for this northern trade. Through this gate pass also most of the leaf and brick teas which are sent overland from Tientsin, via Kiachta, to Siberia and Russia. The total of this trade amounts to about 50,000,000 pounds a year. One may see these great tea-caravans at Peking in the early morning passing through the gates, or just without the city walls, where the patient and wise-looking camels love to rest in the soft, impalpable dust which rises in a cloud with every footfall and with every gust. Read on The Great Wall of China... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Romyn Hitchcock The Great Wall - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Forgotten Wonders: The Great Wall of China Great Wall of China Great Wall of China - Wikipedia The Great Wall @ National Geographic Magazine China-Wall Great Wall China Pictures Great Wall of China on Encyclopedia.com Great Wall, China Great Wall of China