A Great Wall: Obama tours China's iconic site - "It's magical"

[jefferson_dem]

A Great Wall: Obama tours China's iconic site



BEIJING – President Barack Obama absorbed history's expanse Wednesday from atop the Great Wall of China, a manmade wonder of such enormity that Obama found himself putting daily life in perspective.

"It's magical," Obama said, walking down a ramp alone, his hands in his pockets. "It reminds you of the sweep of history and our time here on earth is not that long. We better make the best of it."

A must-see for presidents from President Richard Nixon on, the Great Wall was one of Obama's major sightseeing stops during his diplomatic tour of Asia. He later traveled to Seoul, South Korea, the final stop of his eight-day trip.

Dressed in a winter jacket against a biting wind at the Great Wall, Obama led a knot of people for a half-hour jaunt up the crenelated wall toward a watchtower, a restored section originally built 500 years ago.

Obama walked down the last ramp by himself in a choreographed moment for photographers. White House aides were exultant afterward that "the shot" they had planned turned out perfectly.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091118/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama

[HamdenRice]

1. It is an amazing site. One of the things it's hard to know without being there is how steep it is

It's actually very challenging just to walk along the great wall causeway. It's in very rugged country and follows the steep hills and mountains. Just walking a mile or so in the touristy area is almost as tiring as rock climbing.

When you get to the top of one of the hills you can look out over the wall snaking to the horizon, up and down the hills and mountains. It's very magical and breathtaking.

[On the Road]

2. It Certainly Is Steep in Places

Unfortunately, that was one of the observations that were possible the day I visited -- there was a thick fog and zero visibility. :-(

The thing that's amazing to me about is that the Great Wall was never intended to successfully repel invasions. It was to slow the invaders down, buy time for reinforcements, and provide rapid communication by lighting fires on the towers, which as I understand always had a line of sight to adjacent towers.

[Clio the Leo]

3. If he does NOT start wearing a hat......

.... I may not vote for him next time. :)

Last thing he needs is a head cold.

[Thrill]

4. That Picture looks like a Magazine Cover

:)

[RepublicanElephant]

5. we need one of those walls to slow-down chinese imports. nt