The Great Wall of China has always inspired the imagination of masculine vigor and an atmosphere of heated conflict. But recently archeologists have discovered a section of the wall in North China's Hebei Province, which they describe as the "Feminine Great Wall".

Built at least 430 years ago, this section of the Great Wall is located on the perilous mountains in Dongjiakou village, Funing County in North China's Hebei Province. The "Feminine Great Wall" also serves as a boundary between Liaoning Province and Hebei Province. Stretching over 8 kilometers, the wall is still durable and intact after hundreds of years, with its 31 watchtowers, 18 stations and 14 beacon towers. As an important fortification on the north of the "First Pass of the Great Wall" - the Shanhaiguan Pass -- the Dongjiakou Great Wall is located 38 kilometers from the tourist city of Qinhuangdao. The highest point of the wall is 556 meters above the sea level. Only traces of the three castles originally built along the wall can be found today. Apart from the castles, other parts of the wall have been very well preserved. Built on steep granite ridges, the Dongjiakou Great Wall is a good example of the defense system of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Watchtowers, which are distributed all the way along the wall, served as resting places for soldiers and provided shelter from the rain. Stone vaulted gates were built on the two sides of the watchtowers, with various carvings. Even after hundreds of years, some of the carved images of rosy clouds and lotus flowers are still recognizable, representing peace and love in China's traditional culture.

According to Hao Sanjin, a researcher at China Great Wall Association, the decorative patterns were rarely seen on other sections of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty. "Bricks carved with characters indicating unit designation and time of construction have been very often found on parts of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty, some containing characters such as 'jing zhong bao guo' ("serve the motherland with selfless loyalty"),' noted Hao, adding that "the relief sculptures with such soft and beautiful lines are very rare."

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