The Great Wall of China is among the modern-day Seven Wonders

The Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer, the Colosseum in Rome and Jordan's Petra all made the list. (来源：EnglishCN.com)

The Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza in Mexico and India's Taj Mahal were also picked, but England's Stonehenge and the Eiffel Tower in Paris missed out.

Organisers say about 100m people cast votes over the internet and by phone.

The New7Wonders campaign is the brainchild of a Swiss man, Bernard Weber, who has had a varied career as a film-maker and museum curator.

Recognising achievements

American actress Hilary Swank said at the presentation ceremony: "Never before in history have so many people participated in a global decision."

Organisers say the contest was a chance to recognise the achievements of societies outside Europe and the Middle East.

There are fears the ruins at Chichen Itza could have too many tourists

The original list of seven wonders was established more than 2,000 years ago by Greek scholars.

It included the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the ancient lighthouse outside Alexandria, the great pyramid at Giza - the only survivor - and three other long-vanished edifices.

The campaign has been some six years in the making.

But the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) - which has long had its own World Heritage List - has criticised the organisation's approach.

Unesco argues that the list is very limited. Its own World Heritage List numbers sites including 660 cultural and 166 natural.

Success in the competition will not be popular with everyone.

Archaeologists said the Mayan ruins, at Chichen Itza in south-eastern Mexico could be hit by an avalanche of additional visitors and that the extra wear and tear could force authorities to limit the tourist traffic.

长城当选世界“新七大奇迹”。

由全球约1亿人投票选出的世界“新七大奇迹”今天在葡萄牙里斯本揭晓，中国长城成功入选。

除了中国的长城之外，约旦古城佩特拉、巴西耶稣像、秘鲁印加马丘遗址、墨西哥奇琴伊查古城库库尔坎金字塔、意大利古罗马斗兽场以及印度泰姬陵也获得了“世界七大奇迹”的称号。

新当选的“世界七大奇迹”是由全球1亿多万名参与者通过网上或电话投票的方式，从21个候选名单中选出的。

非盈利组织“新七大奇迹基金”发起的这项网络和电话投票评选活动历时六年，其间招来了各种非议。

有人认为，这种将文化遗产娱乐化的做法，权威性和可信度值得怀疑。还有人表示，主办方多方推销广告和纪念品，有借评选"圈钱"之嫌。

据悉，“新七大奇迹”基金会今年5月爆出“冷门”，中国长城的得票数已跌出“前七”。于是中国长城学会和八达岭管委会开始了拉票活动，但这一举动引来的反对之声不绝于耳。

旧“世界七大奇迹”中的埃及吉萨金字塔，将继续保有“奇迹”地位。埃及官员曾表示，要金字塔去竞争一席之地是一种侮辱，因而8日共产生八个世界奇迹，包括金字塔。

该活动的主办方“世界新七大奇迹”基金会是1999年由瑞士商人、旅行家贝尔纳·韦伯先生创立的。

2006年1月1日，由6名世界建筑师和文化界人士组成的基金会专家委员以不记名投票的形式从77个备选的景点名单中选出了最后21个评选名单。2007年7月8日选出世界“新七大奇迹”。