For years people have said that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure that can be seen from the Moon. However, astronaut Michael Collins stated during the 1969 Apollo mission that this is false. Space shuttle astronaut Jay Apt confirmed: "We look for the Great Wall of China. Although we can see things as small as airport runways, the Great Wall seems to be made largely of materials that have the same color as the surrounding soil. Despite persistent stories that it can be seen from the moon, The Great wall is almost invisible from only 180 miles up!"

The Great Wall is a symbol of China representing the strong determination, courage, and unity of the Chinese people, and it is disappearing. The wall is also vanishing. Less than 20% of the structure is still intact and a third of the structure has already vanished due to weather, the encroaching Gobi Desert, theft of farmers living in its shadow, and hoards of trampling tourists.

Efforts are being made to save the wall. In a country still struggling to meet the nutritional and health needs of its population, spending money to protect a large, old, useless wall is a luxury. However the new Great Wall Law has stiff penalties for those who litter, deface, or build within a certain distance of the Wall. Offenders are can be given prison sentences of up to seven years. As of August 1, 2003 China has closed off vast sections of the Wall in an effort to protect it. Tourists are now restricted to areas that are restored and officially designated as tourist sites.