The Great Wall has played a role in the formation of the Chinese nation. The book Where is the Great Wall explains, from a macro geographical perspective, the reasons why the Chinese people have been building the Great Wall for two thousand years. Covering regions such as the Northeast Plain, North China Plain, Loess Plateau, Inner Mongolia Plateau, Hetao Plain, Hexi Corridor, and the deserts and Gobi, the book introduces the history, culture, economy, military affairs, communication, and conservation related to the Great Wall through the various landscapes of these different areas. It vividly presents the interaction and exchange both within and beyond the Great Wall, as well as its interdependence and integration with the natural geography.
The author Dong Yaohui, vice-chairman of the China Great Wall Association, accompanied U.S. Presidents Clinton and Bush as an expert designated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during their visits to the Great Wall in 1998 and 2002, respectively. In 1984, Dong Yaohui and his companions completed a remarkable feat, walking 7,400 kilometers over 508 days in the first-ever on-foot survey of the Great Wall. For nearly forty years, he has been tirelessly exploring and advocating for the Great Wall, earning him the title "Son of the Great Wall." Dong Yaohui has stated that interpreting the Great Wall from a geographical perspective was a wish he had 35 years ago while studying in the Geography Department at Peking University. His deep understanding of the Great Wall's history and culture is reflected in this book, which encapsulates his decades of exploration and insights into the Great Wall.
