Great Wall of China 21041 - Toys LEGO - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL Great Wall of China 21041 LEGO

The Great Wall For over 2000 years the Great Wall has wound its formidable way across the hills and mountains of the Chinese countryside. Its construction helped unify a new empire and strengthened the idea of China as a single nation. As an enduring symbol of China’s national pride, the wall remains one of the most impressive feats in the history of architecture. “There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China.” W. Somerset Maugham4 Many people imagine the Great Wall to be one long uninterrupted structure. In reality it is more a 13,000 miles (21,000 km) network of walls that reflect the rise and fall of numerous kingdoms and dynasties. As such the story of the Great Wall is also the story of China as the nation we recognize today. In the 3rd Century B.C., Emperor Qin Shi Huang conquered his six neighboring kingdoms, establishing the Qin Dynasty and becoming the first Emperor of China. As well as linking together the many defensive walls the smaller kingdoms had built, he ordered the building of a new northern wall to protect his new empire from marauding tribes. The following dynasties extended the wall further, but it was during the Ming Dynasty that much of the wall that we recognize today was constructed. In a period that stretched over 100 years, over 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of wall was added. Unlike the first walls that had often been built using compacted earth or wood, these latest sections were made of carved stone or brick. Forts, flanking towers and ramparts were added to create a formidable defensive line. The end of the Ming Dynasty in 1644 also signaled the end of any construction or maintenance of the Great Wall. This would continue until sections of the wall were restored and opened to the public by the government of the People’s Republic of China in the 1950s.5 “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Chinese proverbIt took several different Dynasties and over 2000 years to create the Great Wall we recognize today. The Spring & Autumn Period Seven warring kingdoms built the first walls to protect their borders. The Qin Dynasty Qin Shi Huang becomes the first Emperor of China and builds a northern wall to defend his new empire from Mongol harassment. The Han Dynasty Extended the wall westward to protect the growing trade travelling via the Silk Road. The Tang Dynasty Was one of the most prosperous and peaceful dynasties in Chinese history with little construction to the wall.

From then to now7 The Song Dynasty Enlargedandimproved thewallinanattempt tostopinvasionbythe ManchusandMongols The Yuan Dynasty Thewallfailstostopthe MongolinvasionandChina comesunderthecontrolof theMongolEmpire The Ming Dynasty TheChineseregaincontrol ofthecountryandsetabout systematicallyrebuildingand strengtheningtheGreatWall Post-Ming TheManchusbreach thewallandendthe lastChinesedynasty Thewallfallsinto disrepair -AD -AD -AD -Present8 While foreign travelers have always marveled at the Great Wall, the Chinese themselves only started to appreciate the massive structure midway through the 20th century. This was partly due to the historical financial and human costs of building the wall: heavy taxes had been imposed to pay for it and it’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of soldiers, laborers and convicts died during its construction. But also because it had failed to stop the invasions it was built to hinder. Today the wall plays a major part in the Chinese national identity, and the restored sections, especially around Badaling, have become a major tourist destination with over 10 million visitors each year. The wall was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and has long been regarded as one of the seven modern wonders of the world. “Until you reach the Great Wall, you are no hero” Chairman Mao910 Many myths and legends have emerged about the Great Wall. Unfortunately, the most famous one, that it is the only man-made structure on earth that can be seen with the naked eye from outer space, is untrue. At best, the wall can be spotted during a low orbit, but even then only if sunlight and weather permits it. “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” Chinese poem1213 La Grande Muraille Depuis plus de 2 000 ans, la Grande Muraille dresse son imposante silhouette parmi les collines et les montagnes de la campagne chinoise. Sa construction a contribué à unifier un nouvel empire et a renforcé l’idée d’une nation unique. En tant que symbole impérissable de la fierté chinoise, la muraille demeure l’un des chefs-d’œuvre les plus impressionnants de l’histoire de l’architecture. «LaGrandeMurailledeChine s’élevaitdanslabrume majestueuseénormesilencieuse etterrifiante» W. Somerset Maugham14 De nombreuses personnes pensent que la Grande Muraille est composée d’une seule longue structure ininterrompue. En réalité, il s’agit plutôt d’un réseau de fortifications s’étendant sur près de 21 000 km, reflétant la montée et la chute de nombreux royaumes et dynasties. De ce fait, l’histoire de la Grande Muraille est aussi celle de la Chine alors qu’elle devient la nation que l’on connaît aujourd’hui. Au III

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Architecture series creatively captures the essence of many of the world’s most iconic landmarks while giving you an enjoyable and engaging LEGO building experience. Whether your interest is in travel, design, history or architecture, these sets are a physical memento of great trip abroad, a famous building you know well, or a city you still dream of visiting. Every LEGO Architecture set is designed to be displayed. Much more than just a photo, building and displaying your model on your desk, in the bookcase or on the shelf, lets you be transported every time you admire the view. Follow us on Adam Reed Tucker is the co-developer of the LEGO Architecture product line.121122 LEGO