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The Great Wall casts its spell

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David C. Atherton’s moving piece on his visit to the Great Wall of China (“Facing Ghosts of the Past Atop the Great Wall,” March 9) brought back memories.

While on the ancient rampart I encountered a man who was alone, singing at the top of his lungs in Chinese. In English, he told me he was singing a song about the Great Wall.

He said his name was Aaron Chan. He was 26, a salesman from Hong Kong, and this was his first visit to China. Chan said he had longed to be on the Great Wall all his life.

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“What do the words say?” I asked of the song he was singing.

He replied: “I see China, and the Great Wall reminds me I am Chinese. Now that I have climbed the Great Wall I am a man.

“I lost my spirit of being Chinese. Today I have recaptured that spirit. Today, for the first time in my life, I feel I am finally Chinese.”

Later, an American woman appearing to be in her 70s almost knocked me over as she rolled down a steep incline on the wall.

“I have wanted to do this since I was a little girl. Now my life is complete,” she shouted as she rolled by.

The magic of the Great Wall of China affects people in many wonderful ways.

Charles Hillinger

Rancho Palos Verdes

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