AFRICAN DELEGATES VISIT THE GREAT WALL
Posted by African Press International on December 18, 2007
<BY Jeff Otieno Aguko
and James Keyi in Beijing, China
Over 100 Delegates drawn from Ten African Countries including Kenya last Week on Wednesday had a rare opportunity to visit the historic Great Wall of China located in the Jundu Mountain.
Great wall is a famous Cultural site measuring 6350km in terms of length and 6.5metres wide under strict state protection.
It was planned by first emperor General Xuda and Chang Yuchun and is now 2000 old since inception.The historic wall is one of the Seven Wonders of the World-it can be seen from the moon.It has four intriguing sites to contend with namely Badaling which is the longest,Mtianyu,Jinshangling and Etsimatai which is the shortest.
There is an entrenched believe in China and the neighbouring Countries which says that he who does not visit the site is not true man-meaning bravery and adventure due to it’s location and accesability.
During the tour there was an astonishing shivering temperatures measuring -20degrees.
The delegates had to wade across the snow littering the precincts of the place for about one hour to catch the glimpse of the rare site.
China is the world most populous country with a staggering estimated population of 1.3b which is tantamount to one fifth of the world total and the figure does not include those living in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan Province.
It’s home to the highest mountain in the world Mount Qomolangma it towers above others at 29,035feet or 8,848metres.The exchange programme by the delegates mostly Journalists,Doctors and Teachers was the culmination of President Hu Jintaos recent visit to South Africa where he promised to cement good ties with African Countries devoid of any semblance of political conditionalities.
The one hundred delegates is the first of a series to follow in the next three years.Before the conclusion of the programme next week the delegates are scheduled to visit Guangzhou Honda Automobile Company ltd,Sun Yat-Sen University,Chinese University incubator and Qingxiu mountain.
Published by API/APN africanpress@chello.no
