Who isnโt aware of the Great Wall of China? It is by far the longest wall not only in the country of China but also in the entire world. It is among the Seven Great Wonders of the World.
Bricks, stones, metals, rice flour, and wood were used to build this wall. For this particular reason, it is also among the worldโs oldest mud and stone wall. Isnโt it spectacular?
The length of the Great Wall of China is about 21,000 kilometers. Who designed it? And is it correct to say that this Great Wall of China is partially visible from the moon?
1. Introduction To This Architectural Wonder
There are 7 wonders all over the world, including the Taj Mahal of India, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China is world-famous due to its time of construction, strength, and itโs ancient history.
This Great Wall of China is more than 2,300 years old.
2. How Long is The Great Wall of China?ย
You can guess its vastness from the fact that it is possible to see it easily, even from space. However, as per various international surveys, this wall with all its branches is 8,851.8 km. (5,500.3 mi) and itโs 21,000 km, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China.
It is famous all over the world because of its unmatched length, but apart from this, many interesting stories related to this wall are very popular in China.
A large number of inaccessible passes built here are also unmatched. A large number of tourists reach every year to see this Great Wall, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Now, the people of China know this wall as โWan Li Chang Cheng. The width of this wall, then it is such that 5 horses or ten soldiers can walk simultaneously on it. It shows how, statistically, it was built up for military purposes.
In addition, this wall has been used for border control. The defensive features of the Great Wall were improved after the construction of garrison stations, military barracks, and watchtowers, signalling danger through light or smoke/fire.
There are many courses on the walls of this border. It covers a total length of 21,196.18 km, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China. Today, the system of defense of the Great Wall is usually among the most influential architectural works in history.
Due to its enormous length, the Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the whole world. This long wall is made up of a number of separate walls that run parallel to or partially parallel to one another and were constructed during several dynasties.
In a five-year survey, the Great Wall of Chinaโs length was estimated in meters. The wallโs condition was also looked at at the same time.
2.1. Length of The Wall Is A Topic of Doubt
Although there remains confusion about the length of this wall because, in a survey conducted in the year 2009, its length was given as 8,850 km, while according to a state survey conducted in China in 2012, the total length of โThe Great Wall of China is 21,196 kilometres, this research was also published in Xinhua, a leading Chinese newspaper.
3. The Mighty History of the Great Wall of China
An interesting thing is this wall has not been built by any one king but by many kings of China at different times. Its construction began in the 5th century BC and ended in the 16th century.
In the 8th century, the Kui, Yan and Zaho kingdoms built the wall with clay and pebble-cast bricks to protect them from attacks by arrows and swords.
China came under the Qin Empire 221 years before Christ. This empire united all the small states and created a monolithic China. After this, the rulers of the Qin Empire united all the walls, which became the northern border of China. From the 5th century onwards, many walls were built, which together were called the Wall of China.
During the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huangโa distance of 5500 milesโwas built between 1368 and 1644 during the Ming dynasty.
This wall was originally built as a wartime defense. There are many towers and passages on this wall. When Emperor Qinshi Hong first proposed this long wall, it was meant to protect the Chinese states from invading tribes. However, it failed as the Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan crossed it and set an attack on China in 1211.
It took almost two thousand years to build the wall. The most well-known building period was from 220 to 260 BC, during the reign of Chinaโs first emperor Qin Shi Huang. Although some portions have almost entirely vanished, his time saw the unification of the wall.
The wall was extended westward to protect traders traversing the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty (206 BCโ220 AD).
During the Ming Dynastyโs rule in 1471, work on the portion of the wall that still stands began. This more recent wall served the aim of protecting the nationโs borders as well. The building and upkeep of the wall were no longer seen as vital after the Ming period.
The Great Wall of China, which was initially constructed to serve as a physical barrier to the conquerors, actually acted more as a psychological barrier and a representation of Chinese strength.
4. Largest Cemetery in the World?
Have you ever heard people refer to The Great Wall Of China as the โlargest cemeteryโ in the world? Wonder why?
It is said that it took almost twenty lakh labourers to build this wall, of which about ten lakh people could not survive. It is believed that they were buried under the wall itself.
This is exactly why this wall is famously known as the โLargest cemeteryโ on Earth.
5. 15 Interesting Facts About the Great Wall of China
- This wall was opened for civil tourists in 1970.
- This is the largest human-made wall in the world.
- While making the wall, rice flour was utilized to join its stones.
- It is not a whole wall but is made up of small parts.
- There are also many empty places in this wall, and if these are added, its length will be much more than previously calculated.
- Due to its location, the height of this wall is not equal everywhere. It is 9 feet high in a few places and thirty-five feet high in others.
- โMinarsโ were also built in many places to keep an eye on the enemies coming from far away from this wall.
- The Great Wall of China was built to protect the country from enemies, but later it was used for transportation and moving goods from one place to another.
- This Chinese wall was built to protect the country, but it could not remain invincible because Genghis Khan broke it in 1211, crossed it, and attacked China.
- The Chinese Wall was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.
- In the 1960s-70s, people started building houses for themselves by taking out bricks from this wall, but later the government gave security barriers. However, theft still occurs today, and in the smugglerโs market, the cost of a brick is considered to be 3 pounds.
- One-third of the Wall of China has vanished. Apart from the lack of proper maintenance of the wall, the effect of weather and theft is also due to this.
- It is said that the labourers who did not work hard in making this wall were buried in this wall.
- It is the only man-made structure that can be seen from space.
- About 1 crore tourists come every year to see this wall.
6. Present Significance of The Great Wall of China
Children all over the world, especially in China, have been taught that the wall of China is the only man-made thing on earth that is visible in space, but despair spread all over when Chinaโs first astronaut in space said that he could not see the wall from space.
This disappointment was overcome when a state-run newspaper published photographs taken by a Chinese-American astronaut.
Even though the Wall of China is visible in space, the feeling of this Great Wall of Chinese pride has diminished a bit because the pyramids of Egypt and many airports have also been seen from space.
The China Wall, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is no longer being maintained, due to which it is in danger of being destroyed. A large part of the wall has disappeared due to natural calamity and human negligence.
Known as the Great Wall of China, this wall is no longer an unbroken structure. This wall, divided into many parts, has been broken for 1962 kilometers. Tourists have also caused a lot of damage to this historic structure.
7. Planning to Visit The Great Wall of China?
Every year, millions of tourists visit the Great Wall of China. Itโs simple to understand why the wall draws so many tourists. Itโs striking to see the wall winding around the picturesque mountain range for kilometers.
The Great Wall of China may be used to travel to a variety of locations, thanks to its rebuilt parts. The tourist-favoured and best-preserved areas are found close to Beijing.
Although Mutianyu is one of the best-preserved sections of the wall, fewer people go there.
You can ascend either on foot or by using the cable car and gondola lift, where the wall winds along the mountain ridge. The scenery that emerges from the wall is absolutely lovely.
Check out more about China โ Icytales-China
Today this wall elevates Chinaโs name in the world, and it has been announced as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Suggested reading: What does the American Flag mean
How Long is a Century Insights into 100 years
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat
Top Comments