In 1987, UNESCO included The Great Wall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, on its list of World Heritage Sites. The Great Wall twists up and down across deserts, meadows, mountains, and plateaus for about 4,163 miles from east to west in China, resembling a massive dragon. Several of the great wall’s sections, which have a history spanning more than 2000 years, are currently in ruins or have even vanished. Yet, because of its magnificent architecture and historical value, it ranks among the most alluring tourist destinations worldwide.
The Great Wall of China is the world’s most extended manufactured structure, and it took longer to complete than any other building venture in recorded history. The Great Wall represents the unification of China, a country with a history as intricate as its wall’s length, in addition to earning top rankings on architectural lists.
The Great Wall stretches for a total of 21196.18 kilometers
The Great Wall is the world’s largest manufactured structure. The route, nearly 20,000 km long and snaking like a dragon across mountains and plateaus in northern China, runs from the east seaside to the west desert.
Who Constructed China’s Great Wall?
The Great Wall project was both symbolic and tactical. When Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, acquired control of the Chi kingdom from regions across East Asia, he aimed to consolidate his empire and stop the rise of feudal lords. It is estimated that 300,000 soldiers and prisoners were forcedly mobilized to begin the gigantic task’s initial phase in response to the demands of this tyrant ruler. Throughout the 2,000 years it took to finish, the wall is thought to have been constructed by hundreds of thousands more individuals.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Background & Construction
The Great Wall is regarded as one of the world’s seven architectural wonders because of its extensive history, enormous scale, and distinctive architectural design.
A large army of laborers constructed the wall made up of soldiers, prisoners, and locals. The finished product of the structure shows the sagacity and knowledge of the Chinese people.
To stave off intruders from the north, the warring nations built defensive walls between the 7th and 8th century B.C., when the Great Wall’s construction was underway. Back then, it was just a local endeavor. To keep out nomadic tribes, the individual walls were joined until the Qin Dynasty, resulting in a wall extending east to west for about 5000 thousand kilometers.
Under the succeeding dynasties, the wall was fortified and considerably expanded. The northern nomadic ethnic groups rose to prominence during the Ming dynasty, and the Ming authorities ordered the wall to be repaired 18 times. As a result, the Qin period remnants were restored, and about 1000 kilometers were built, totaling 6,700 kilometers.
The Architectural Design of the Great Wall
The Great Wall’s architectural design is unparalleled in the annals of global building. Since the only available weapons in the past were swords and spears, lances and halberds, bows and arrows, walls with gates, watchtowers, signal towers, and moats became a crucial defensive measure. Once the Great Wall began to take shape during the Qin dynasty, the feudal lords worked to improve its construction to protect the safety of the dynasties. Emperor Qin Shihuang’s contribution to the wall’s design is seen as being of utmost significance because it helped future generations of Chinese people defend themselves against the Huns while also ensuring tranquility for those living in the northern section of the country.
The Qin Dynasty’s Great Wall was constructed at a tremendous human cost. Tens of thousands of people, including conscripted troops, enslaved people, prisoners, and regular citizens, toiled in agonizing labor. This explains why the First Emperor of Qin’s dictatorship is frequently linked to the Great Wall’s history. A sophisticated defense system along the wall was built during the Ming dynasty, including garrison towns, garrison posts, passages, blockhouses, additional wall structures, watchtowers, and beacon towers, each with a specific status and purpose.
The system gave the frontier troops the resources they needed to defend themselves effectively while enabling the imperial court to maintain in touch with military and administrative organizations at all levels, including ground level. The Great Wall, which stretched for around 4,160 miles (6,700 km) and was primarily built during the Ming era, frequently follows the crest lines of hills and mountains as it winds through rural China. The wall rises and falls along the mountain peaks and valleys from east to west, with an average of 10 meters in height and 5 meters in breadth. It serves as a testament to China’s history, culture, and development.
Protection
Anyone who has visited even a tiny portion of the Great Wall of China cannot dispute that it is a magnificent example of an old military fortification that also serves as a testament to human achievement. Every year, The Wall draws hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is true that “The man who doesn’t visit the Wall has never been to China” because the Great Wall is arguably China’s most well-known and enduring emblem. The Great Wall, or Wan Li Chang Cheng in Chinese, spans more than 10,000 li, or 5,000 kilometers.
The Chinese Great Wall Academy reported on December 12, 2002, that this distance is now only a historical record after a 45-day survey of 101 sections of the wall in various provinces. Less than 30% of its original extent is still in good condition due to the continual decline brought on by natural forces and human devastation. The Academy has demanded that this priceless artifact be given more protection.
Source: Flickr
Defend against natural disasters
The deliberate destruction by man might completely deplete the wall in a relatively short amount of time, in contrast to the gradual and often lengthy effects of nature.
Millions of laborers and troops had to be mobilized for centuries to complete the Great Wall. The construction team faced challenging terrain, severe weather, and scarce resources. Still, they surmounted these obstacles using creative engineering techniques like rammed earth foundations, stone buttresses, and crenellations.
The Great Wall of China is not only a fantastic work of engineering and construction, but it also serves as a reminder of the creativity and tenacity of the Chinese people throughout history. It has become one of the most recognizable sights globally and represents China’s tenacity and resiliency.
