This year, the Great Wall's fascinating Mutianyu Pass turns 600.

It was first built in 1404, during the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), as part of the Mutianyu section's restoration project.

In its entirety, the Great Wall -- the largest man-made structure on earth -- stretches 6,700 kilometers from the nation's east coast to the northwest, with numerous sections.

The Mutianyu section, located in Huairou County, 70 kilometers northeast of downtown Beijing, is the largest and best preserved section of the Great Wall. Connected to Juyongguan Pass in the west and Gubeikou Gateway in the east, it used to serve as the northern defensive barrier for the capital and imperial tombs.

Built mainly from granite, the wall is 7 to 8 meters high and 4 to 5 meters wide at the top. Watchtowers are closely placed.

The Mutianyu Pass consists of three watchtowers -- a big one in the center and two smaller ones on either side. Standing on the same terrace, the watchtowers are connected with tunnels inside the wall, a rarely seen sight in all other sections of the wall.

In order to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the pass, the China Great Wall Society and local tourism authorities plan to hold a series of activities. "More importantly, we are aiming to promote public awareness about the importance of protecting the Great Wall," said Dong Yaohui, general secretary of the Great Wall Society.

(China Daily April 2, 2004)