The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world — the longest wall in the world, an awe-inspiring feat of ancient defensive architecture. Its winding path over rugged country and steep mountains takes in some great scenery.

The Great Wall facts

Chinese name: 长城 (Chángchéng /channg-chnng/ 'Long Wall')

Location: Northern China

Length: 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi), all known sections were measured

History: more than 2,300 years

How the Great Wall was Built

The majestic Great Wall was built with wisdom, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears. Families were separated, and many workers died and were interred as part of the Great Wall itself.

Workers: soldiers, peasants, rebels

Materials: stone, soil, sand, brick

Material delivery: by hand, rope, cart, goat (?)

The Great Wall's Structure — Walls, Watchtowers, Fortresses…

The Great Wall was not just a wall. It was an integrated military defensive system with watchtowers for surveillance, fortresses for command posts and logistics, beacon towers for communications, etc.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Great Wall was reconstructed to be stronger and more sophisticated, due to better construction techniques being developed.

The wall body: The Ming Great Wall usually had battlements 1.8 meters (6 feet) high with loopholes and crenels, and parapet walls 1.2 meters (4 feet) high.

Flanking towers: Every 500 meters or less (1,640 feet) on the Great Wall there was a flanking tower allowing defenders to shoot arrows at attackers at the face of the wall.

Fortresses were built at important/vulnerable access points (passes), such as Shanhai Pass Fortress, Juyong Pass Fortress, and Jiayu Pass Fortress. There were many archery windows and gates on the forts. The fortress gatehouses were the strongest and most impregnable structures on the Great Wall.

Present Condition — 30%+ of the Great Wall Is Gone

Due to natural erosion and human damage, about 2,000 kilometers, or 30% of the Ming Great Wall has disappeared. (Far more of previous dynasties' Great Wall sections is gone.)

Restoration and Protection to the Great Wall

To prevent further loss of the Great Wall, the Chinese Government has taken measures to protect it:

Laws to protect the Great Wall

Funds for protection, restoration, and maintenance

As individuals, we can do the follows to protect the Great Wall:

Plant trees to keep the Great Wall slopes protected from erosion

Don't litter and graffiti / remove trash and graffiti

Don't damage the Great Wall / take bricks home (it's illegal)

Great Wall Culture — Legends, Stories, Poetry…

The Great Wall is a China icon. It shows us not only China's culture of national pride, grand projects, and determined resistance, but also China's extravagant architecture and creativity.

During the construction of the Great Wall, there were many interesting legends and myths, such as Meng Jiang Nü weeping over the Great Wall, a sad but romantic love story set in the Qin Dynasty.

Great Wall Travel

The Great Wall of China is the must-visit China attraction. Perhaps the most powerful advertising words in history come from the poetic pen of Chairman Mao: "Until you reach the Great Wall, you're no hero." Figuratively this has come to mean 'to get over difficulties before reaching a goal'. See more Great Wall Sayings.

70,000 Visitors Per Day! — and that's just one section!

After the Great Wall opened to the public as a tourist attraction, hundreds of millions of visitors have been to its various sections. Badaling section is the most visited section (63,000,000 visitors in 2001). In peak seasons, the visitor flow can be up to 70,000 per day!

Why You Should Visit The Great Wall

"Greatest Human Feat in History": The Great Wall is the building project with the longest duration and greatest cost in human lives, blood, sweat and tears. It deserves its place among "the New Seven Wonders of the World" and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Over 300 World VIPs Have Visited the Great Wall!

Over the years, many national leaders and celebrities have been to the Great Wall...

Barack Obama, President of the U.S., visited the Great Wall in November 18, 2009.

David Cameron, Britain's Prime Minister, visited Juyong Pass on November 10, 2010.

Recommended Great Wall Tours

If you are planning a Great Wall tour, see our guide to how to plan a Great Wall tour. Or see our recommended tours for inspiration: