Lengkou information

[Kim]

Originally Posted by andarchen

Hi, Kim
I had posted your confusion in Chinese GW forum this morning ,let us expect some respones . Please refer to link :
http://www.thegreatwall.com.cn/phpbb...3769&forumid=1

I tried to use Google's translation tool, but after translating it really doesn't make much sense

I hope I'm not the guy from Sweden you are referring to

[andarchen]

Originally Posted by Kim

Thanks, I really wish I could read more than just a few Chinese characters. ...

Very interesting responses on your question came up , hope it is readable for you .

[Kim]

Originally Posted by andarchen

Very interesting responses on your question came up , hope it is readable for you .

I tried to translate with Google Translating Tool but much of it makes no sense and is very difficult to understand.

As far as I understand from one of the posts, the construction of the wall is decided by the importance, location and the likelihood of an attack.

I totally agree, but I don't think it explain the construction of Lengkou/Heliukou.

The walls around Lengkou (40°10'25.11"N 118°50'10.64"E) is made of brick which is not surprising since this part was probably built in the late Ming dynasty and it is a very important pass.

This (40° 9'54.88"N 118°52'31.18"E) is a brick wall which makes sense since the wall protect the pass.

The elevation difference here (40° 9'25.32"N 118°54'5.79"E) is about 150 meters from the bottom of the gully to the wall. That's about a 45 % slope so not a very likely place of attack by a marching army. Still this place is brick wall while the other part (40° 9'29.89"N 118°54'10.41"E) is made of stone and this (40° 9'22.63"N 118°53'27.04"E) section also seems to be made of stone.

Since the enemy would come from the north it would make sense to fortify the northern ridge, but only the southern ridge have brick watch towers.

I'm pretty sure that in the late Ming dynasty they realized that it would be much easier to defend the south ridge, so the wall was moved here.

At Banchangyu (40°13'1.19"N 119°33'22.32"E) the northern wall is late Ming while the southern wall is early Ming. I think Heliukou is another example of different construction periods.

[andarchen]

Here is the translation of one of responses :

"The left Green Line is the place troops resident.

The right big circle lane is Heliukou rather than Lengkou.

GW with platform and without tower is the construction of early Ming, towers were added on top of platform when late Ming ，GW with bricks embrace is late Ming too.
For cost consideration , only pass and important section of GW with brick embrace ."

And next response just provided a very very old improvement record of Lengkou as his attached picture , that record was submitted late Ming .

As for the reason why towers were added on southern wall rather than north , your defence strategy is same as Ming's defence chief ,

Kim, i can't help to admire you totally .

[Kim]

Originally Posted by andarchen

Here is the translation of one of responses :

"The left Green Line is the place troops resident.

The right big circle lane is Heliukou rather than Lengkou.

GW with platform and without tower is the construction of early Ming, towers were added on top of platform when late Ming ，GW with bricks embrace is late Ming too.
For cost consideration , only pass and important section of GW with brick embrace ."

And next response just provided a very very old improvement record of Lengkou as his attached picture , that record was submitted late Ming .

As for the reason why towers were added on southern wall rather than north , your defence strategy is same as Ming's defence chief ,

Kim, i can't help to admire you totally .

So it seems the Chinese Great Wall experts agree with me - or I with them

Walking around out there for six hours is plenty of time to consider the construction method and other important questions - extremely quiet place so easy to think.

Thank you very much to help improve my understanding of Lengkou/Heliukou by posting the question on the Chinese forum

[andarchen]

Originally Posted by Kim

So it seems the Chinese Great Wall experts agree with me - or I with them

Walking around out there for six hours is plenty of time to consider the construction method and other important questions - extremely quiet place so easy to think.

Thank you very much to help improve my understanding of Lengkou/Heliukou by posting the question on the Chinese forum

Standing on the place where plants ancient constructions and extremely quiet aruond , it just like took the "time machine " back to the future .

To discuss GW in here is my pleasure , your are welcome.

[andarchen]

Originally Posted by Kim

This is the fortress at 40°10'56.96"N 118°53'0.88"E:

Hi,Kim
I come back to see the fortress you posted before , one question ,this fortress locates far away 1,5km north outside GW of Heliukou, did you take it by long lens or visited there in person ？

[Kim]

Originally Posted by andarchen

Hi,Kim
I come back to see the fortress you posted before , one question ,this fortress locates far away 1,5km north outside GW of Heliukou, did you take it by long lens or visited there in person ？

I could see the fortress from the road when I was driving there, but the picture was taken from the main wall with full zoom.

[andarchen]

Originally Posted by Kim

I could see the fortress from the road when I was driving there, but the picture was taken from the main wall with full zoom.

I see , i shall add it into my map .