"Walking Through the Great Wall of China" is a magic trick performed by the illusionist David Copperfield, in which he apparently enters the Great Wall of China from one side and emerges on the other side in front of a live audience on both sides of the wall and over it. This illusion was performed in his ninth TV special The Magic of David Copperfield VIII: Walking Through the Great Wall of China (1986). It is one of the illusions Copperfield performed only once in his career.
Effect[]
On both sides of the wall there are two identical cubic platforms, raised from the ground and with one face abetted to the wall. After the first platform is covered by sheets, Copperfield enters it, and his silhouette is shown entering the wall. The sheets are removed, and the platform is indeed empty. On the other side of the wall two assistants are on the second platform and put a sheet against the wall: for a few seconds two hands and a face push against it from the wall. The assistants cover the platform with sheets and leave it. Copperfield's silhouette is shown emerging from the wall, then he throws away the sheets to reveal himself.
The whole illusion is filmed in long take, thanks to a large camera boom that makes a complete rotation over the wall. Copperfield's heart is monitored during the whole illusion.