The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world and the longest wall in the world.
The literal meaning of its name in Chinese is ‘The Long Wall’ and it has a history of more than 2,300 years!
- In 2012, it was announced that the official length of the Great Wall of China is 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi). Today, only a few hundred kilometers of original wall are left.
- It’s made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against invasions and to protect Silk Road trade.
- It was built in different areas by different states/dynasties to protect different territorial borders.
- Most of today’s Great Wall was built or restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) where it was reconstructed to be stronger and more sophisticated, due to better construction techniques being developed. The walls built by the Ming dynasty measure 8,850 km (5,500 mi).
- The height of the Great Wall is 5–8 meters (16–26 feet), where intact/restored. Some of the Wall was built along ridges, which make it look taller.
- The Great Wall was not just a wall. It was an integrated military defensive system with watchtowers and fortresses.
Today, the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history and is the must-visit China attraction! After the Great Wall opened to the public as a tourist attraction, hundreds of millions of visitors have been to its various sections!