China's Great Wall is currently competing among the top 10 finalists for the title of the "New Seven World Wonders" as voted for by millions of people around the world.

It is reported that organizers of the biggest global vote ever announced that more than 45 million people had taken part in the ballot so far in an Internet campaign to choose the seven new wonders of the world from a shortlist of 21 historical constructions.

According to the most recently published data, on May 7, the top 10 were the Great Wall of China, the Acropolis in Greece, the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Coliseum in Rome, the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Petra in Jordan, the statues on Easter Island, Britain's Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal in India.

Following the destruction of Afghanistan's giant Buddha statues at Bamyan by the Taliban, a Swiss filmmaker, curator and traveler Bernard Weber decided to set up the "New Seven World Wonders" contest in 2001.

The Swiss organizer said the selection of the new list is a great chance for people to review how major world civilizations grow, and to appreciate the world's collective cultural heritage.

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 in 2006.

The original "Seven World Wonders of the World", made by the Greek philosopher Philon 2200 years ago, included the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia and the Colossus of Rhodes, along with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in modern-day Iraq, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in modern-day Turkey and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

The final results will be officially announced on July 7 of this year in Portugal's capital city, Lisbon.

Editor: Wing