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 a rugged country and steep mountains take in some great scenery.
- Chinese name: 长城 (Chángchéng /channg-chnng/ 'Long Wall')
- Another name: 万里长城 (Wàn-Lǐ Chángchéng /wann-lee channg-chnng/ 'Ten-Thousand-Li-Long Wall', i.e. 'the 5,000-Kilometer-Long Wall')
Get a thorough intro to the Great Wall of China: length, history, protection, location maps, mind-blowing facts, how, when, who, why built it, and Great Wall travel ...
The Great Wall of China You Want to Know
How Long Is the Great Wall of China?
The length of the Great Wall of China is 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi), half the equator!. The data came from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. In 2009, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage first published data on the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, which measured 8,851 kilometers (5499 miles).
See more on How Long Is the Great Wall of China >>>
Why Was the Great Wall of China Built?
- To defend nomads and protect China's North
- To promote expansion and protect the Silk Road
In the Qin Dynasty, the First Emperor of Qin inked the northern walls to prevent invasion from northern nations. In the Han Dynasty, the emperors extended the Great Wall far into today's western China to protect the Silk Road trade.
Find out more purposes for building the Great Wall >>>
History of the Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China has a history of more than 2,300 years. The Great Wall of China's history began in the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) and was last rebuilt as a defense in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
Early Walls (770-221 BC)
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475–221 BC) when the eastern and central region of what is now China consisted of many small states or princedoms, the princes ordered independent walls be built along state borders to protect their states. The earliest was probably built between the states of Lu and Qi around 650 BC, which later became part of the Chu State Wall.
The Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)
Qin Shihuang (king of the State of Qin from 247–221 BC) conquered and unified the other states. Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered that the northern sections of walls on state borders, especially the walls in the northern part of China built by the states of Qin, Zhao, and Yan, be joined together to form a unified line of defense against Mongol harassment from the north, the first true Great Wall. Other state border walls became obsolete in a unified China and were subsequently eroded or dismantled.
The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)
The northern fortifications were strengthened and lengthened, with sections of wall running parallel for hundreds of kilometers and interlinking along the Inner Mongolian border.
The Han Dynasty Great Wall from the North Korean coast near Pyongyang in the east to Jade Gate Pass (Yumenguan) in the west was the longest the Great Wall has ever been at more than 8,000 km (5,000 miles). The total length included many branching walls, natural barriers, and trenches.
The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
The Yuan Dynasty was the first dynasty in which the whole of China was controlled by a non-Han people, the Mongols. The Great Wall had done a good job of preserving Han China for 1,500 years. The building of the Great Wall, not surprisingly, ceased during the Yuan Dynasty, as China and Mongolia to the north were one.
The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
China flourished during the Ming Dynasty and its military might swelled. The Great Wall was systematically rebuilt in a 100-year project to prevent further northern invasion.
Most of the remaining Great Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty and is known as the Ming Great Wall. The Great Wall sections close to Beijing like the Badaling section and Mutianyu section were built during the Ming Dynasty.
Post-Ming History (1644–present)
A breach in the Great Wall at Shanhai Pass in 1644 by Manchu forces signaled the end of Han control in China for the last and final Chinese dynasty, the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). It also signaled the end of construction and maintenance of the Great Wall, until the Badaling section was restored by the government of the Peoples' Republic of China, and opened to the public in 1957 as a tourist attraction.
- 2-Day Great Wall Mutianyu-Simatai Day-Night Tour
- 1-Day Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour
- 5-Day Huangyaguan to Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking Tour
Great Wall of China Location and Map
The Great Wall stretches from west to east in northern China, and mainly covers 15 provincial-level areas: Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai.
Our 26 Great Wall maps cover the location, section, and historical maps of the Great Wall.
Mind-blowing Great Wall of China Facts
- The Great Wall cannot be seen from space.
- Nearly 1/3 of the Great Wall has disappeared without a trace.
- Glutinous rice flour was used to bind the Great Wall bricks.
- The Great Wall is poisonous as arsenic is used.
- Large-scale battles were rarely fought at the Great Wall.
- No bodies have been found buried in the Great Wall.
Read more about the Great Wall Facts >>>
- 4-Day Emperor's Tour of Beijing Tour
- 2-Day Mutianyu & Simatai Great Wall Night Tour
- 1-Day Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
Who Built the Great Wall and When?
The Great Wall of China has a long history — more than 2,300 years. It was built in different areas by different states/dynasties to protect different territorial borders.
It's often said that the First Emperor of Qin built the Great Wall. Actually, he was not the first to build it.
| Dynasty | Great Wall History — Key Events |
|---|---|
| Zhou Dynasty: The (Pre-) Warring States Period (770–221 BC) | State overlords built state border walls. |
| The Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC) | The First Emperor of Qin linked the Great Wall sections on China's northern border. |
| The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) | Han Wudi extended the Great Wall west to Yumen Pass and beyond. |
| The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) | Hero General Qi Jiguang rebuilt the Great Wall around Beijing. |
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour
- 1-Day Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour
- 2-Day Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall Hiking and Camping Tour
How Was the Great Wall 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
Read more on How the Great Wall Was Built — Materials and Methods: See who the workers were, their construction techniques, and how they moved the huge amount of materials.
How Tall Is the Great Wall of China?
The height of the Great Wall is 5–8 meters (16–26 feet), where intact/restored. It was designed to be at least three times the height of a man. Some of the walls were built along ridges, which make them look taller.
The Great Wall's Structure — Walls, Watchtowers, Fortresses
The Great Wall of China 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.
A watchtower at the Great Wall- 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.
Read more about How was the Great Wall of China defended >>>
- 1-Day Beijing Highlights Private Tour
- 3-Day Jiankou to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Discovery Tour
- 2-Day Jiankou Wild Great Wall Camping Tour
Present Condition — 30%+ of the Great Wall Is Gone
Present Condition of the Great WallDue to natural erosion and human damage, about 2,000 kilometers, or 30% of the Ming Great Wall have disappeared. (Far more of previous dynasties' Great Wall sections is gone.)
Restoration and Protection of 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 following 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)
Read more about the Great Wall Protection >>>
Great Wall Culture — Legends, Stories, Poetry
Great Wall Legend of Meng JiangnvThe 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 Jiangnv weeping over the Great Wall, a sad but romantic love story set in the Qin Dynasty.
Read more on the Great Wall Culture — Legends, Stories, Poetry
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour
- 1-Day Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour
- 5-Day Huangyaguan to Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking Tour
Great Wall Travel
The Great Wall of China is a 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'.
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 500 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 on November 18, 2009.
- David Cameron, Britain's Prime Minister, visited Juyong Pass on November 10, 2010.
- See who else has been to the Great Wall >>>
Most Popular Sections Around Beijing
We would rank Beijing's nearby Great Wall sections as follows, according to our customers' feedback and our own personal experience:
- Mutianyu — the most magnificent fully-restored Great Wall section
- Jinshanling — the most popular Great Wall hiking route, with the most beautiful original architecture
- Jiankou — the section that appears on most postcards, steep and perilous
However, we recognize your individual choice will be based on your own personal interests and requirements. See our Great Wall sections comparison for more information on your choice.
More Articles Related to the Great Wall of China
- Can the Great Wall Really Be Seen from Space?
- History of the Great Wall — 9+ Dynasties; 2,300+ years
- Why the Great Wall WAS, and STILL IS, So Important
- How Was the Great Wall Defended?
- What Was the Great Wall of China Made of?
- 12 Popular Great Wall Sayings
- 26 Maps of the Great Wall of China
- How to Visit the Great Wall of China
- The Best Times to Visit the Great Wall
- Other Things to Do on the Great Wall Besides Hiking
- 20 Dos and Don'ts at the Great Wall of China
Discover the Great Wall with Us
If you are planning a Great Wall tour, see our guide on planning a Great Wall tour. Or see our recommended tours for inspiration:
- The comprehensive classic Beijing itinerary: 4-Day Essence of Beijing Tour with Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking
- The hikers' Great Wall adventure: 3-Day Discovery Great Wall Hiking from Jiankou to Jinshanling
- 4-Day Secret of Beijing: Appreciate the stunning views of the Great Wall at night.
Not quite what you were looking for? No problem. See more of our Great Wall hiking tours. You can have us tailor-make your own Great Wall tour by telling us your interests and requirements.