奥巴马登八达岭长城钦佩中华文明

绵延起伏的万里长城是中美关系30年风雨历程的最好见证。印有5任美国总统足迹的长城，11月18日迎来又一位美国总统——贝拉克·奥巴马。登高远眺，奥巴马说：“我从这里带走的是对中国文明的钦佩，带来的是美国人民的问候。”今天，就任美国总统不到一年就对中国进行国事访问的奥巴马在留言簿上写道：“我钦佩长城的巍峨，感谢中国人民的热情。”奥巴马是八达岭长城接待的第460位国家元首、政府首脑。他登上的这段长城已耸立了500多年，仍保持着古人修建时的原貌。

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年来访的尼克松说：“这是一座伟大的城墙。”
1984年来访的里根说：“中国就像长城，伟大而深远。”
1998年来访的克林顿说：“如今长城是中国展示自己，而不再是把自己隔离在世界之外的象征。长城把中国凝聚起来了。”
2002年来访的小布什说：“长城依旧，中国已今非昔比。”