The Great Wall of China

What is it?

One of the history’s most impressive feats of architecture, The Great Wall stretches more than 6,400 km across China.

Why was it built?

The wall was first begun during China’s Spring and Autumn periods (722-481 BC) by soldiers from seven opposing armies.
In order to defend themselves, they built the walls and stationed troops on the borders.

In 221 BC, the Emperor Qin’s domain absorbed the other six lands, for the first time uniting China under one ruler.
To protect this empire from Xiongnu attackers in the north, he ordered the building of new walls connecting the old fortifications along the northern border.
There are no surviving historical records to show the length and course of the Qin Dynasty walls and most of the original walls have since been eroded.

The Han, Sui, Northern and Jin dynasties in turn, all repaired, rebuilt and expanded sections of the Great Wall to defend themselves against northern invaders.
This continued until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when the walls were widened to become double or multi-lined and new walls were built.
At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men.

How was it made?

The earliest walls were made mostly by stamping earth and gravel together.
During the Qin dynasty, builders used local materials such as rocks from the mountains because transport was difficult, while rammed earth was used to construct the wall on the plains.
During the Ming Dynasty, the walls were rebuilt and new walls constructed using bricks and stone.

Interesting facts

• It is estimated between 2 to 3 million Chinese people died while building the entire Great Wall.

• Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China, cannot be seen from space.

• More than 60 kilometres of the wall in Gansu province may disappear in the next 20 years, due to erosion from sandstorms.

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The Great Wall of China