奧巴馬登八達嶺長城欽佩中華文明
綿延起伏的萬里長城是中美關係30年風雨歷程的最好見證。印有5任美國總統足跡的長城，11月18日迎來又一位美國總統——貝拉克·奧巴馬。登高遠眺，奧巴馬說：“我從這裏帶走的是對中國文明的欽佩，帶來的是美國人民的問候。”今天，就任美國總統不到一年就對中國進行國事訪問的奧巴馬在留言簿上寫道：“我欽佩長城的巍峨，感謝中國人民的熱情。”奧巴馬是八達嶺長城接待的第460位國家元首、政府首腦。他登上的這段長城已聳立了500多年，仍保持着古人修建時的原貌。
U.S. President Barack Obama had a taste of Chinese history on Wednesday by visiting the country's most iconic site, the Great Wall.
"It's magical," Obama said when walking along the Great Wall in chilly winter wind. "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."
Dressed in a dark winter jacket, a smiling Obama broke away from companions and walked alone along the ramp.
"I brought back the admiration for the Chinese civilization, I bring here the greetings of American People," Obama said when ascending a watchtower to enjoy a distant view at the Badaling section of the Great Wall.
Obama is the fifth U.S. president to visit the manmade wonder. Former U.S. President Richard Nixon visited the Great Wall in 1972,Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1998. In 2002, former U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura toured the same section as Obama did.
"I'm inspired by the majesty of the Great Wall and am grateful for the warmth of the Chinese people," Obama wrote on the visitor's book after his half-hour tour.
The Great Wall was the second sightseeing program for Obama during his visit to China. He toured the Imperial Palace Tuesday after nearly two hours of talks with President Hu Jintao.
Built originally as the biggest defense work in ancient China, the Great Wall today has become one of the must-see places for visiting foreign leaders to the country in the past six decades.
The Badaling section, which is in the northwestern suburb of Beijing, runs about 3,741 meters on a mountain of about 700 to 800 meters above sea level, dotted with 19 beacon towers.
The wall at the Badaling section averages seven to eight meters in height, six to seven meters in thickness, with a width of four to five meters on top.
Over the past six decades, more than 450 heads of state and government have visited the Badaling section.
The Great Wall is listed among the UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage sites given its historic status.
Separated sections of the Great Wall were built as early as 2,000 years ago by small kingdoms to defend against raids from nomadic tribes to the north.
When Emperor Qinshihuang, the country's first emperor, united China for the first time in 221 B.C., he ordered the separate sections linked together, forming a complete military defense system.
The Great Wall today was mostly rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644).
With its sections stretching from northeast to west China, the Great Wall now runs 6,700 kilometers long and its section at Badaling is the first part that opens to tourists.
1972年來訪的尼克松說：“這是一座偉大的城牆。”
1984年來訪的里根說：“中國就像長城，偉大而深遠。”
1998年來訪的克林頓說：“如今長城是中國展示自己，而不再是把自己隔離在世界之外的象徵。長城把中國凝聚起來了。”
2002年來訪的小布什說：“長城依舊，中國已今非昔比。”
