Interesting Facts About the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is over 5,500 miles long.

The Great Wall of China stands as one of the seven wonders of the world, a structure known world-wide for its impressive engineering feats and size. However, the Great Wall did not begin as a single barricade designed to unify and protect the people of China, but has only become the unifying symbol after centuries of construction and war.

Origins

The Great Wall of China did not start out as a single, unified wall designed to protect China from outside invaders. Instead, the Great Wall had its beginnings during the Warring States period of Chinese history, and up until about 221 B.C., sections of the wall were built by various warring states. Only when the Qin state had taken over did the wall's purpose shift to preventing invaders from the north.

Size

Up until early 2009, the length of the Great Wall of China has been estimated at just over 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). However, a government study concluded that the barriers measured over 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) long, including over 220 miles (259 kilometers) of trenches and almost 1,400 miles (2,232 kilometers) of natural barriers including mountains and waterways. The study was conducted using infrared and GPS technologies, which helped researchers locate sections of the wall that had previously been undiscovered.

Time Frame

The building and rebuilding of the Great Wall of China took place over centuries, between the Qin taking over around 200 B.C. and the Manchus taking over in the 17th century. According to the Smithsonian, the wall did not become completely unified until the late 14th century under the Ming Dynasty. The construction ceased after the Manchus successfully invaded China from the north in the 17th century. When they unified the country, the wall was no longer necessary to keep the northerners out.

Misconceptions

The Great Wall of China is not the only human constructed building that can be seen from space. According to the Smithsonian, other landmarks, including the pyramids, can also be seen. In addition, the Great Wall can only be seen from low orbits and only in certain weather. However, the Great Wall has been adopted by the Chinese as a sign of national unity even though the idea of the Wall being a unified defense was spread largely through false western stories.

Potential

According to the Smithsonian, several million people visit the Great Wall of China each year. However, the tourism is taking a toll on the preservation of the wall. In addition, the desertification of the land around the wall also takes its toll. When the wall was build, forests within 60 miles of the wall were destroyed so that invaders could not catch the defenders by surprise. However, this loss of foliage has accelerated the desertification of the area.

References

• Smithsonian Magazine
• BBC
• University of Maryland
• University of Maryland
• China Highlights