Many people have probably visited the Great Wall of China, but in most cases, they likely go to the Badaling section near Beijing, which is easily accessible from urban areas thanks to well-maintained highways. Of course, I also went there when I first visited China in 2015.
I vividly remember the indescribable feeling I had when I saw the long, seemingly endless wall packed with tourists, and how it was unimaginable that this had been built around 214 BC with the participation of a million people.
The place we'll be introducing today is the "First Tower of the Great Wall," the starting point of the wall, located more than 6,000 km from Beijing.
It's no exaggeration to say that everything started from here.
There are various theories as to why the Great Wall of China was built, such as to defend against attacks from the Mongols or to protect the Silk Road, but I think the common thread at its origin is the feeling of "anxiety."
Before the development of sea routes, trade hubs were centered around Rome, with roads radiating outwards, and the trading centers were located between Asia and the Middle East, with Dunhuang, in present-day Gansu Province, being the central trading location.
Leaving this city meant entering a foreign land with different skin colors and languages. In those days, people lacked the information and transportation networks we have today, and they felt considerable anxiety about traveling abroad for trade. It is said that many religious buildings were constructed during this period to alleviate some of that anxiety, and at the same time, the Great Wall of China was built to protect against attacks from enemies.
This place taught me a simple but crucial lesson for achieving anything: that by taking action out of anxiety, and steadily moving forward step by step with even the most ambitious and daunting plans, you can create something tangible enough to be seen in satellite images.
"Travel" is full of elements of the extraordinary, and it possesses a magical power that helps you see things you're struggling with from a completely different perspective.
Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and it's relatively easy to travel abroad again, why not take a leap of faith and choose a place you would never normally choose to visit?
Next, I think I'll go to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
