Did you know one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world is a long wall? There are no shops, bathrooms, or restaurants, and it may seem like just a boring old wall. This wall is not just any wall. It is the world’s largest wall and the longest man-made wall in the world! It’s the Great Wall of China. It is one of the most beautiful and well-known architectural buildings in the world!
Great Wall of China Facts
The Great Wall of China is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. A famous landmark and a spectacular place to visit. It is full of history, heritage, and culture.
The Great Wall of China is not a continuous wall. It was not built simultaneously or at the same time. The sections of the wall were built during different dynasties in China. The completion of the Great Wall of China was in 1878 during the Qing Dynasty.
Peasants, rebels, and farmers were the first people to build the famous wall. The construction of the Great Wall took around 2,300 years. The total length of the Great Wall of China is 21,196 kilometers or 13,171 miles. The average height of the Great Wall of China is 5-8 meters or 16-26 feet.
Since the dynasties built the Wall along the landscape of Northern China, each section of the wall is at different altitudes. The wall’s highest point is in the Huanglouyuan Section, about 1,439.3 meters or 4,722 feet. The lowest point is Laolongtou Section, and this section is just above sea level.
History of the Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a big part of Chinese history. It has a long history and is more than just a famous landmark within the Chinese empire.
During the 5th and 6th centuries BC, China began building a series of walls to help protect them from invasions and attacks from barbarians. There were also several wars in ancient China during this time, where different kingdoms built forts to defend their borders. This was known as the warring times.
The Qin Dynasty was victorious during this time and all of the kingdoms were brought under one ruler. This ruler was King Zhen. He became the first emperor of China. He ordered parts of the wall separating the former states to be torn down and continued building the wall in North China.
The ancient wall was used through many dynasties, including the Yuan Dynasty, Han Dynasty, Sui Dynasty, and the Northern Dynasties. It received the most attention during the Ming Dynasty. The Chinese people were fighting the Mongols during this time, and the main reason they focused on building the wall was for protection and a barrier to avoid conflict.
They built approximately 25,000 watch towers to make sure they could see every angle and be prepared for an attack. Ming’s great wall became a symbol of unification between the kingdoms.
After the Qing dynasty had control over China, they conquered Mongolia and extended the empire’s borders beyond the wall. The construction of the Great wall stopped after these events.
The Chinese government is very controlling. Popular belief is the Great Wall of China is now a symbol of trying to keep their citizens in and under strict control and keep other nations’ influences out. The cultural revolution was from 1966-1976. Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communist Party in China, launched the revolution and brought the country under stringent and robust rules. China was renamed the People’s Republic of China.
Some of the wall started to disappear during the cultural revolution. The bricks were used to build homes, farms, and reservoirs. Mao Zedong, the leader of the People’s Republic of China and the Red Guard, thought the wall was a relic or a piece of the past. They thought the bricks could be better used elsewhere than just as a historical landmark.
The Great wall has been a Unesco World Heritage site since 1987. It has been named a world heritage site because it has a cultural, historical, scientific, or other form of significance. Yellowstone National Park, Easter Island, and the Taj Mahal are other world heritage sites.
The Great wall is also a must-see historical site in China. It is one of the most popular among other historical sites, such as the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, and the Mogao Grottoes. The Chinese government and the tourist sector are working to preserve and restore the wall where it has been damaged through the centuries.
Fun Facts About The Great Wall of China
There are so many interesting facts about the Great Wall of China. Here are some cool facts you probably do not know about such a fantastic place!
- People believe the Great Wall of China can be seen from space with the naked eye and Neil Armstrong said he could not see the wall when he landed on the moon.
- The beacon towers on the Great wall were used to pass messages. Some were close (3 miles), while others were further apart.
- The workers of the wall used sticky rice to glue the wall’s stones together.
- The most visited section of the wall is known as Badaling. It is located near Beijing and receives almost 63,000,000 visitors annually or every year.
- The Great wall is vanishing due to erosion and human activity. About 2000 kilometers or 1,243 miles of the wall have disappeared.
- There is a toboggan slide you can use to descend or go down the Great Wall if you visit Badaling or Mutianyu.
These are just a few fun facts about the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China is of great importance to Chinese mythology, symbolism, and national identity.
The wall is not only seen as a beautiful historical site and tourist attraction but also is a symbol of China’s architectural strength and ability to defend itself before most modern technologies. It is a must-see place for many tourists looking to explore its beauty.
