China's Great Wall tops the list of candidates for the New 7 Wonders of the World as voted by millions of people around the world, CRI reported.

 

 

The biggest global vote ever, the New 7 Wonders of the World is expected to attract 19 million voters to select their seven favorite "wonders," or most amazing and historical architectures.

 

The New 7 Wonders' panel of experts, chaired by the former Director General of UNESCO, Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, short-listed nominations with the most votes received at the end of 2005, narrowing the list down to 21 finalists that are now the focus of the final year of voting.

 

Construction of the Great Wall was first initiated as early as 220 BC. It is one of the largest existing man-made architectures in the world.

 

Other promising candidates among the 21 finalists are the Roman Colosseum in Rome, India's Taj Mahal and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the only candidate short-listed from the old Seven Wonders of the World.

 

The New 7 Wonders of the World will be announced during the official declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007.

 

(Chinanews.cn February 6, 2007)