Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, spanning more than 13,000 miles (20,000 kilometers) across northern China, is just one of many defensive strategies employed by the country over centuries. This massive fortification runs from west to east, crossing eleven provinces and municipalities and two autonomous regions, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. Made up of various sections, some dating back to the 5th century BCE, the Wall was constructed over a 2,000-year period.

The origins of the Wall date back to the Warring States Period (c. 481-221 BCE), a time when regions battled for control over China. The state of Qin, pronounced “chin,” which ultimately gives China its name, emerged victorious under the leadership of King Ying Zheng. After his conquest, he adopted the title Qin Shi Huangdi, or First Emperor.

Around 220 BCE, Qin Shi Huangdi commanded the dismantling of earlier fortifications between states and ordered the unification of existing walls along the northern border. This new construction extended over 10,000 li (approximately 3,100 miles or 5,000 kilometers), forming a comprehensive barrier designed to shield China from northern invasions.

The northern steppe has been home to nomadic herders since the 4th century BCE and offered a harsh living environment. These nomads envied the southern Chinese for their access to finer goods and a diverse range of agricultural products. Despite their smaller numbers, these nomadic tribes were a formidable military threat. Mounted on swift, robust ponies and wielding powerful bows and arrows, they frequently raided Chinese border states, seizing whatever they desired.

The construction of the “Wan Li Chang Cheng,” or the 10,000-Li-Long Wall, was a massive project that used unwilling laborers such as convicts and conscripts from all over China. Qin Shi Huangdi, far from a benevolent leader, was more focused on his own magnificence than on the welfare of his people. Under his rule, the Wall was not a symbol of national pride or unity; instead, it was notorious as a grueling labor site where many were sent to work until death. It is estimated that as many as 400,000 people died during its construction, with many buried within the Wall itself.

Originally composed of rammed earth and wood, the Wall was continually strengthened and extended by successive emperors using various materials including brick, granite, and even marble. Interestingly, builders also incorporated sticky rice into the mortar to enhance stability, a practice that contributed to the Wall’s longevity.

Despite its singular name, the Great Wall of China is actually a series of fortifications built by different dynasties, some of which run parallel to each other. This system includes not just walls but also trenches and natural barriers such as rivers and hills.

The majority of the Wall as it stands today was constructed during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. Similar to Qin Shi Huangdi’s goal centuries earlier, the Ming Dynasty built the Wall to protect the country from Mongolian invaders. This period of construction accounts for 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of the structure, featuring over 25,000 large watchtowers. However, in the mid-17th century, the Manchus from Manchuria breached the Wall and overtook Beijing, leading to the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the rise of the Qing Dynasty.

Despite its ancient origins, researchers keep uncovering new parts of the Great Wall. In 2009, using infrared and GPS, they found a 180-mile (290-kilometer) stretch of the Ming Dynasty wall previously obscured by natural barriers. More recently, in 2015, archaeologists located 6 miles (9.5 kilometers) of ruins along the Ningxia Hui-Gansu border, not known before to be part of the Wall. Dating back to the Qin dynasty, these ruins have eroded to between 3 and 16 feet high (1 to 5 meters) due to flooding and natural erosion.

Today, the Great Wall of China is celebrated as one of the most remarkable architectural achievements in human history, extending 13,171 miles (21,196 kilometers), making it the longest man-made structure in the world. The second-longest is the Great Wall of Gorgan in Iran, which is considerably shorter, spanning less than 125 miles (200 kilometers).

Maintaining such a vast structure has proved challenging. It is estimated that 30% of the Ming Dynasty wall has vanished over time due to neglect and decay. A 2014 report by the Great Wall of China Society revealed that less than 10% of the monument is in good condition, with 74% classified as being in poor condition.

In recognition of its historical and cultural significance, UNESCO designated the Great Wall a World Heritage site in 1987. Furthermore, in 2007, the Great Wall of China was elected as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, placing it alongside other iconic landmarks such as Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, and the Colosseum.