Olympics '08: Touring the Great Wall

Title:
Olympics '08: Touring the Great Wall

Description:
OLYPlusSelectPlusSportsOlympics '08: Touring the Great WallOlympics '08: Touring the Great WallThe Associated PressA must-see stop for any visitor to China is the famed Great Wall. Associated Press reporter Jason Bronis explains what makes it so great. (Aug. 4)((TRACK))((SUPER: MUTIANYU, China)) ((VO of ticket booth, cable car ride)) OUR TRIP TO THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA BEGINS AT THE BASE OF A MOUNTAIN ACCESS POINT ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE BEIJING.SOME VISITORS HIKE TO THE TOP, WE CHOOSE TO MAKE THE SHORT TRIP BY CABLE CAR, AND GET A PREVIEW OF SOME OF THE AMAZING SIGHTS THAT AWAIT US.((NATS))Ambient noise.((TRACK)) ((VO of wall, wall, wall, man.)) FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT, THE WALL EXTENDS FAR IN EACH DIRECTION.BUT, THIS IS JUST A FRACTION OF THE SIX-THOUSAND MILES OF WALL CONSTRUCTED OVER CENTURIES AS A LINE OF DEFENSE FOR CHINA'S GREAT DYNASTIES.SOME PARTS OF THE WALL ARE CLOSE TO 3-THOUSAND YEARS OLD. AREAS OF THE WALL OPEN TO VISITORS HAVE BEEN RESTORED, BUT OTHER STRETCHES HAVE CRUMBLED UNDER THE RAVAGES OF TIME.BILL MC-KINNEY IS AN AMERICAN ENGINEER LIVING IN BEIJING, WHO VISITS THE WALL FREQUENTLY.((SOT))((SUPER: Bill McKinney/Engineer))'I'm just astounded that this thing could be built without modern tools, all by hand. A lot of smart people were involved in engineering this wall. It's really one of the engineering marvels of the world.'((STANDUP))((SUPER: Jason Bronis/MUTIANYU, China))'A day at the Great Wall can be grueling. Many areas are steep and there are plenty of uneven steps. When you com here, especially in the China summer heat, it's important to bring a lot of water.' ((TRACK)) ((VO of tourists on wall.)) BUT THE DAUNTING EFFORT DOESN'T SWAY HUGE NUMBERS OF TOURSTS, AND THE WALL IS A MUST-VISIT ATTRACTION FOR CHINESE VISITORS.EVEN MORE ARE EXPECTED DURING THE SUMMER GAMES.((SOT))((SUPER: Carly Adams/Tourist))'It is unbelievable. It's so surreal to think that this was built so long ago. // It's unbelievable.'((TRACK)) ((VO of wall to end.)) 'UNBELIEVEABLE' MAY BE THE ONLY WORD THAT FITS THIS MONUMENT TO HUMAN EFFORT.IT'S ALSO DIFFICULT NOT TO BE STRUCK BY THE AMOUNT OF SACRIFICE THAT WENT INTO ITS CREATION.BETWEEN TWO TO THREE MILLION CHINESE ARE SAID TO HAVE PERISHED DURING WALL CONSTRUCTION.WALKING THIS WONDER OF THE WORLD THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER BRINGS VISITORS ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE DEEP AND RICH HISTORY OF THIS OLYMPIC HOST NATION.JB, THE A-P, MUTIANYU, CHINA.

Author:
AssociatedPress

Tags:
oly, great-wall, olympics, '08:, touring, wall,