THEÌý The First Great Emperor built the wall in 200 BC to keep out invaders. By the 1700s Chinas’ borders had changed so much that it became redundant both as a border and a symbolic entity. There are many myths about the wall. Claims about its length vary from around 1,600 to nearly 4,000 miles long although it isn’t a single wall; much of it is in bits, some beautifully restored, as around Beijing, and others non existent or just clumps of earth.
Sandi Toksvig takes a close look at the Great Wall from its western deserts to the Pacific Ocean in the company of historian John Man who has travelled the wall.
FROM THE DERBYSHIRE PEAKS TO THEÌý Climber Andy Cave talks about his personal journey from the death of a close friend in the Himalayas to his return to the mountains he loves so dearly.
Presented by Sandi Toksvig
Photo: The Great Wall of China
This week’s guests:
John Man is a historian and travel writer.Ìý HeÌýtravelled the length of the Great Wall of China to explore and explain it.ÌýÌýJohn's research findings are compiled in his new book The Great Wall.
The Great Wall
Publisher: Bantam Press
ISBN-10: 0593055748
ISBN-13: 978-0593055748
is one of the worlds leading alpinists. In 1997 Andy, with others, pioneered an extraordinary new route of the north face ofÌý in the Himalayas. On that climb he lost a good friend, swept away by an avalanche. Andy was left traumatised. His physical injuries healed but getting back on the slopes wasn’t easy. His new book entitled Thin White Line – a sequel to his autobiography Learning to Breathe -.charts Andy’s personal quest to find his feet again and take to the mountains once more.
Thin White Line
Publisher: Hutchinson
ISBN-10: 0091795729
ISBN-13: 978-0091795726
Sandi Toksvig: