Great Wall of China: reviews, price and practical tips

Visiting the Great Wall of China

Back in the 3rd century BCE, the best way to secure a border was to build a wall that was both tall and wide. Defensive logistics get complicated when you are guarding thousands of miles of territory. Unless, of course, you are China.

History

The structure known as the Great Wall of China was built over a period spanning from 596 BCE to 1642 CE. Essentially, every Chinese dynasty left its mark on this monumental project. Initially, the Qin Dynasty simply connected existing earthen walls built by local administrations to create a unified barrier. As the empire grew, these fortifications were repeatedly torn down and rebuilt. The version of the Great Wall we see today was designed as a northern defense line. Its primary purpose was to block incursions by nomadic groups from the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian steppes.

A project of impossible scale

A few numbers help put this improbable structure into perspective. The Great Wall covers a distance of 6,780 km (about 4,213 miles), though satellite studies suggest an additional 1,000 km (about 621 miles) remains buried. The wall measures between 5 and 7 meters wide (about 16 to 23 feet), with heights reaching up to 17 meters (about 56 feet). Guard towers and fortified bastions line the entire route. It remains the most popular site in China, drawing 15.5 million visitors annually.

A piece of trivia

The stark white color of the mortar once fueled rumors that human bones had been mixed into the construction. Scientific studies have since confirmed that the only additive in the mortar was 3 percent sticky rice, which is far less morbid.

The Great Wall of China is the largest construction in human history, and that says it all.