Great Wall of China - introduction
The Great Wall of China is maybe the
most famous Chinese attraction and has become
a symbol of China for everybody around the world.
The Great Wall of China was enlisted in the World
Heritage by UNESCO in 1987 and it is the biggest
fortification structure made by mankind. The Great
Wall of China is about 6,700 km long and stretches
from the East to the West of China.
Great Wall of China – history
From the V century BC until 221 BC the states
of Qi, Yan and Zhao built fortifications around
their territories to defend them against enemy
populations. When Qin Shi Huang unified
China,
in 221 BC, he created a new wall on the frontiers
of the new kingdom, connecting pieces of the old
walls already in place. The materials used at
first were earth and gravel stamped in frames.
The following dynasties, Han, Sui, Northern and
Jin, all used, repairing and rebuilding it, the
existing Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall of China became very important
strategically under the Ming Dynasty, in order
to defend the Chinese territories against the
Mongols, only that this time the Great Wall was
stronger, as it was built with bricks and stone
rather than with rammed earth.
Around 1600 the Great Wall of China was used to
defend the empire against the Manchu. Works on
the wall were discontinued only under Qing rule,
when China incorporated Mongolia.
Great Wall of China – best preserved areas
Not all the Great Wall of China is equally well
preserved; the best-preserved part of the wall
can be found in the municipality of Beijing and
are: