Everything You Need To Know About The Great Wall Of China

The Great Wall of China might be a tourist destination you're familiar with, but how much do you really know about this jaw-dropping man-made wonder? Let's dive into the history together, learning the coolest 20 facts about this historical site that everyone should know.

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1. It's Over 2,300 Years Old

With initial construction said to have started way back in the 7th century BC, The Great Wall has been around for centuries. Over 2,300 years old, it's amazing to see how well it still stands. It's a testament to all the incredible workers and the sheer amount of time and dedication it took to complete it.

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2. The Walls Can Be As High As 14 Meters Tall

While a majority of the walls have an average height of around 7 meters, at its highest points, it can be as tall as 14. Just think about that for a moment. For a lot of us, that's going to be almost 3 times our height!

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3. Built For Protection From Invaders

While the Great Wall is truly a spectacle to behold, we know some people look at it and think, "What was this made for though?" To answer your question, back in ancient times, it was created by emperors who wanted to strengthen China's defenses. In other words, it was a means of protection against invaders!

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4. People Of All Kinds Came To Build It

As you probably already guessed, to accomplish something as large and grand as this, it requires a massive army of people to build it. That's why everyone from soldiers to commonfolk and prisoners were assigned this huge task. While yes, it took an incredible amount of people, it's also amazing learning how diverse they were too.

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5. Popular Tourist Attraction

Every year, the Great Wall serves as one of China's biggest attractions. With millions of tourists traveling to the country just to witness this spectacle, with estimations of up to 10 million, this just demonstrates how wondrous this accomplishment truly is. 

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6. Towers, Fortresses, Barricades All Built In

In all honesty, The Great Wall is a little bit of a misleading name. Because it's not just one never-ending wall, there are plenty of fortresses, towers, and other defensive buildings connecting it all together. Remember, this was built entirely for protective purposes back in the day, not for sightseeing like it is now.

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7. Built With Multiple Different Materials

While a majority of the Great Wall was built with stone and brick, the Chinese had to be resourceful when those materials were low in stock. Using things like wood and rammed earth, they were able to complete the build. But as an additional fun fact, sticky rice was supposedly a secret hidden ingredient mixed in with the lime to create a mortar that held everything together!

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8. It's Over 13,000 Miles Long

Everyone knows that The Great Wall of China is one of the longest structures in the entire world, but do you know just how far it really goes? Over a whopping 13,000 miles long, that definitely helps to put things into perspective!

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9. Some Bricks Have Carvings Made By The Workers

If you ever have a chance to visit this stunning wonder, you may notice some bricks have carvings on them. These were supposedly done by workers of the past, complete with names, location, and other info written on it. Many believe this served as a quality check of sorts; should the work ever be sloppy, they'd know who was responsible for it.

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10. Became A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Back in 1987, The Great Wall was finally deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site. This spectacular feat deserves to be protected. It's one of those places in the world that just makes you drop your jaw in wonder; how could people have accomplished something so amazing?

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11. Provided Protection For The Ancient Silk Road

The Silk Road was a massive network of different trade routes that helped connect Rome and China. Because of its valuable importance, it was specifically requested that The Great Wall expanded to protect it. Some routes were especially dangerous because of thieves and bandits, so they targeted these areas.

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12. Tied With Myths Like The Legend of Lady Mengjiang

This Chinese tale is one that many in the country will know. After happily marrying her husband, he was quickly sent away to work on the Great Wall. When Lady Mengjiang didn't hear from him for months, she awoke from a nightmare where he continuously called to her. Driven by worry, she tried to visit him only to learn he had passed. Completely devastated, she cried against the wall, causing the wall to collapse in her grief. 

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13. Called The "Longest Cemetery On Earth"

Legend says many workers passed away while working on this wonder. As a result, it's believed that many of the bodies are buried under or within its walls. Which is why The Great Wall of China has also been given the title The Longest Cemetery on Earth. There is no proof to back this, but it's a belief some people share. 

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14. Not Worked On Since 1878

While it's hard to pinpoint exactly when construction ended, many say that the last time The Great Wall was worked on was in 1878. While minor renovations and repairs are still done in recent times, that was the last time any major work was done for it. 

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15. Stretches Across The East Sea To The Western Desert

As the largest man-made project ever done, this will help you really put things into perspective. Stretching all the way from the West where the desert is, it travels along China and ends up at the Eastern seaside. 

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16. Can't Be Seen From Space

Because of its grandiosity, there was a myth created that The Great Wall could be seen by the naked eye in space. Of course, this was easily disproved when astronauts reported their findings, but it just goes to show you how respected this site truly is. 

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17. Built By 9 Different Dynasties

Built across 9 different dynasties, it's truly mindboggling realizing not only how long it took to build this wall, but also how everyone in ancient China seemed to share the same goal. Completing this wall isn't credited to just one person, it was the entire nation, across so many centuries.

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18. One Of The 7 New Wonders Of The World

Alongside the Taj Mahal and the Colosseum, The Great Wall is considered one of the new 7 wonders of the world. It's undeniable the pull this man-made wonder has; it garners so much attention and tourist traffic year after year. 

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19. Sold For Parts

Sadly, nothing good can last forever. Despite being a respected site, it's said that many locals have stolen bricks to sell for money or use for their own good. It's unfortunate thinking that The Great Wall's eventual downfall might be from modern human activity. 

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20. 1/3 Missing

Whether it's from human activity or natural causes, around 30% of the Great Wall has deteriorated. While most still remains healthy and intact, it's incredibly sad seeing some of the work being lost. We hope this wonder continues to last for generations to come!

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