The Great Wall of China is a 6,352 km (3,948 miles) long Chinese fortification built over a span of nearly 2,000 years, in order to protect the various dynasties from raids coming from areas in modern-day Mongolia and Manchuria. Along most of its arc, it roughly delineates the border between North China and Inner Mongolia. Although it is commonly said that the wall is visible to the naked eye from space, it is more accurate to say that it is visible under favorable viewing conditions, if one knows exactly where to look.
Photo credit: Herbert Ponting
Lake Shanhu pagodas at night.
Photo credit: Miguel A. Monjas
Jiuzhaigou Pearl Waterfall.
Photo credit: Noé LECOCQ
Himalaya from the International Space Station. In addition to looking heavenward, NASA helps the world see the Earth in ways no one else can. Astronauts on board the International Space Station recently took advantage of their unique vantage point to photograph the Himalayas, looking south from over the Tibetan Plateau. The perspective is illustrated by the summits of Makalu [left (8,462 metres; 27,765 feet)], Everest [middle (8,848 metres; 29,035 feet)] , Lhotse [middle (8,516 metres; 27,939 feet)] and Cho Oyu [right (8,201 metres; 26,906 feet)] -- at the heights typically flown by commercial aircraft.
Photo credit: NASA
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The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in southeastern urban Beijing, in Xuanwu District. Construction of the complex began in 1420, and was thereafter visited by all subsequent Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although the worship of Heaven, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism.
Photo credit: Saad Akhtar
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This map shows the world as was known to Han Dynasty, China in 2 CE. The shaded areas show the extent of Han civilisation. This map is bases on the existence of settlements under direct Han political authority or military control according to Tan Qixiang (ed.), Zhongguo lishi ditu (中国历史地图集; 1982).
The international boundary shown is the border claimed by the People's Republic of China. Compare the territories of the historical Han dynasty and the territories over which the modern Chinese state claims sovereignty.
Photo credit: Yeu Ninje
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