China is a popular country to visit because it is home to some of the most famous attractions in the world, such as the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China, which is a series of fortifications that opened in 220 BC, has become a staple in global culture and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It attracts more than 10 million tourists every year. Yet, despite its popularity, there are a lot of unknown facts about how and why it was built. There are also many misconceptions, like how people believe you can see it from space. In today’s article, we look at some surprising facts about this global tourist hotspot that carries thousands of years of Chinese history.

Fact #1: You Can’t See The Wall From Space With The Naked Eye

Since the 1900s, people have theorized that you can see the Great Wall of China from the moon with the naked eye. However, that theory was debunked after astronauts like Alan Bean of the Apollo 12 mission confirmed no man-made object on Earth is visible without help from technology like radar imagery. The only glimpse of truth in this theory came after Chinese-American astronaut Leroy Chiao used a camera with a 180 mm lens to identify a small portion of the wall. But, even then, experts weren’t sure Chiao had taken a photo of the actual wall, claiming snowfall and sunlight played a role in what he saw. According to Nasa, it is difficult to see the Great Wall of China with the unaided eye because the wall has the same colour and texture as the land surrounding it.

Fact #2: Keno Helped Raise Funds To Build The Wall

Another legend surrounding the Great Wall of China is that the game keno was used to raise funds to build the historic landmark. Cheung Leung, the ruler of the Han Dynasty, allegedly created keno and used the money raised from the game to build the renovated versions of the Great Wall that we see today, extending the work of the Qin Dynasty years before. Keno is a lottery-like game where players choose numbers ranging from 1-80, and a machine or random number generator draws 20 numbers randomly. It’s similar to bingo, and the game is now popular in countries around the world. For instance, when you play online casino Canada real money games, keno is often offered as part of a casino’s specialty games. Specialty games are always played for real money payouts and are one of the most popular categories of casino gambling, next to slots and hot drop jackpots. Some keno games can pay up to $250,000.

Fact #3: Erosion Is Threatening The Wall’s Existence

While the first two facts have some fiction mixed in, there is nothing false about how erosion is threatening the existence of the Great Wall of China. According to reports, certain sections of the wall, such as the northwestern section, are deteriorating due to human damage and natural erosion. In fact, around 30%, or 2,000 kilometres, has already been damaged, and experts believe more sections will completely disappear within 20 years. As a result, the Chinese government created the Great Wall Protection Ordinance in 2006, banning certain activities like driving on the wall and carrying anything that may destroy it.

The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders of the world, and while everyone has heard of it, there are a lot of misconceptions and surprising facts about it that people may not know. It’s a stunning piece of history, stretching around 8851.8 kilometres (5500 miles), and it’s worth visiting while we still can. 

Published by HOLR Magazine.