Great Wall of China

Written by Sally Guo Updated Sep. 28, 2024

The Great Wall of China, built over 2,700 years ago, is an extensive military fortification system designed to protect ancient China from the invasions of northern ethnic minorities. It is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

With a total length of 21,196 kilometers, the Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world, and it is seen as a symbol of Chinese civilization. This page lists basic facts and answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Great Wall of China.

5 Facts about the Great Wall of China

Chinese Name: 长城 (cháng chéng, Long Wall), 万里长城 (wàn lǐ cháng chéng, Ten-Thousand-Li-Long Wall)
History: Over 2,700 years old
Location: Northern China, East Asia
Total Length: 21,196 kilometers (13,170 miles)
The existing Ming Great Wall stretches from Shanhai Pass in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west.

Where Is the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China spans across the northern China in east Asia. The wall extends from the western Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu to the eastern Hushan Mountain in Liaoning.

The Great Wall historically traverses 15 provincial areas, spanning from east to west: Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang.

Here, we've listed the sections of the Great Wall that can be visited today, most of which are from the Ming dynasty.

Hebei Province (15 sections): Shanhaiguan, Laolongtou, Xifengkou, Dajingmen, Zijingguan, Banchangyu, Baishikou, Dushikou, Jielinkou, Liujiakou, Yangbian, Qingbiankou, Qingshanguan, Wulonggou, Yiyuankou.
Beijing (11 sections): Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan, Huanghuacheng, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Simatai, Jinshanling, Shuiguan, Jiangjunguan, Wuzuolou.
Shanxi Province (11 sections): Niangziguan, Ningwuguan, Pianguan, Pingxingguan, Yanmenguan, Guguan, Deshengbao, Zhenbianbao, Cigouying, Lierkou, Bataizi.
Gansu Province (11 sections): Jiayuguan, Overhanging Great Wall, Gulang, Gaitai, Linze, Minqin, Shandan, Yongchang, Suoqiaobao, Wuqiaoling, Yumenguan, Yangguan (Han Great Wall).
Liaoning Province (6 sections): Jiumenkou, Hushan, Guishan, Xiaohongluoshan, Zhigushan, Zhuhizishan.
Tianjin (2 sections): Huangyaguan Pass and Taipingzhai.
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (2 sections): Sanguankou, Beichakou.
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (1 section): Laoniuwan
Shaanxi Province (1 section): Zhenbeitai.
Qinghai Province (1 section): Datong.

Read more about the Location of the Great Wall of China.

When And Why Was the Great Wall of China Built

Northern China has always been unstable since ancient times. From the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BCE), the Chinese built long walls to protect against other feudal states and northern nomadic tribes.

The Great Wall's earliest section was constructed by the state of Chu in the 7th century BCE, known as "Chu Fangcheng". It is the southernmost part of the Great Wall, located in what is now Nanyang, Henan.

After the First Emperor of China - Qin Shi Huang unified the central plains, the biggest threat to the Chinese people came from the northern nomadic tribes. Therefore, Qin Shi Huang connected the walls built by various states during the Warring States Period (475-221 BCE), covering over ten thousand li. This is how the name "Great Wall of Ten Thousand Li 万里长城" (commonly known as the Great Wall) came about.

However, the Great Wall rarely succeeded in physically preventing invaders from entering China. Instead, it served primarily as a psychological barrier between Northern and Southern civilizations.

During the Han Dynasty, the Great Wall was extended west from the original Qin Wall. About half of the ancient Silk Road ran along this section, making it the longest Great Wall in history. One reason for building the Wall was to improve border control. This included taxing goods traded on the Silk Road, regulating trade, and controlling migration across the border.

Find out more purposes for building the Great Wall.

Who Build the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China has a long history dating back to the 7th century BCE. Emperors from various dynasties were the primary planners and overseers of its construction. Four key figures played the most significant roles: a Duke of the Zhou Dynasty, the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and General Qi Jiguang of the Ming Dynasty.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-221 BCE), a Duke of the Zhou Dynasty started to build the wall, so other state overlords also built state border walls to protect their territories from rival feudal states.

After unifying China, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, ordered General Meng Tian to connect the walls of several northern states. He is renowned for linking these smaller walls into a single, continuous system.

During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han ordered the repair of the Qin Dynasty's Great Wall, the construction of an additional outer wall, and the extension of the Great Wall westward to Yumen Pass and beyond. This effort helped maintain the smooth and safe passage of the Silk Road.

The Ming Dynasty in particular invested heavily in the construction of the wall. The emperors at the time of the Ming Dynasty personally oversaw the wall's construction and made several reforms to improve the wall's overall effectiveness as a defense against invaders.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered General Xu Da to build the Great Wall near Hebei and Beijing. In the mid to late Ming Dynasty, General Qi Jiguang rebuilt the Great Wall in the same regions and added numerous fortresses. The well-preserved sections of the Great Wall near Beijing today were rebuilt by him.

According to historical records, the builders of the Great Wall consisted of three main groups: soldiers, peasants, and convicted criminals. Countless peasants, unable to bear the burden of various taxes, were forced to carry heavy stones and contribute to the construction of the Great Wall.

Read Who Built the Great Wall of China for more details.

How Old Is the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China has a history of over 2700 years. The construction of the Great Wall began as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period (770-221 BCE) and continued until the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 CE).

Today, parts of the Great Wall have disappeared due to natural erosion and human damage. The Chinese people are making efforts to restore the wall and protect its remaining sites.

Read How Old Is the Great Wall of China to learn the features of the wall at different times and the exact age of each section of the wall.

How Tall the Great Wall of China

The wall body is the main part for defending against enemies, with an average height of 7.8 meters (25 feet), and some sections reaching up to 14 meters. The base width is consistently 6.5 meters, and the width of the top surface averages 5.8 meters (19 feet), allowing two supply carts to pass side by side.

The main function of the watchtower on the Great Wall is to attack invaders and store grain, with a height of 12 to 15 meters (39 to 49 feet).

The main function of the beacon tower is to convey messages. When enemies invade, soldiers will burn straw, and the smoke produced will serve as a signal of the enemy's attack, with a height of 6 to 7 meters (19 to 22 feet).

The highest section of the Great Wall is in Qinghai Province, with the highest point at approximately 4,200 meters above sea level.

Read How Tall Is the Great Wall of China to find out the lowest section of the Great Wall.

How Long the Great Wall of China

If there had been no destruction, the total length of the Great Wall throughout history would be 21,196 kilometers (13,170 miles), which is even longer than the distance from the North Pole to the South Pole, about 20,000 kilometers.

However, over the past 2,000 years, the Great Wall has been damaged by natural forces and wars, even though emperors from different dynasties kept building and repairing it.

Today, the well-preserved sections of the Great Wall that we see were mostly built during the Ming Dynasty, with a total length of 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles).

Read How Long Is the Great Wall of China to discover the lengths of each popular section of the Great Wall.

How the Great Wall of China Was Built

The construction of the Great Wall of China primarily relied on the labor of soldiers stationed for defense, local peasants, and convicts who were sent to serve as laborers.

Materials for building the Great Wall were mostly sourced locally. In mountainous regions, stones were quarried from the mountains and used to build the wall. In the plains with loess soil, the wall was constructed using compacted earth. In desert areas, layers of reeds or red willow branches were laid down and covered with sand to form the wall. This method was used for the Han Dynasty Great Wall near Yumenguan in Gansu. Since the Ming Dynasty, bricks and stones were extensively used in many important sections of the wall, requiring a variety of materials including earth, stone, wood, bricks, and lime.

The terrain along the Great Wall varied a lot. When building the wall, workers took advantage of the natural landscape, constructing walls, passes, beacon towers, and fortresses at strategic points. Although the steep mountain ridges added extra defensive value to the Great Wall, they also posed significant challenges for transporting construction materials. Workers had to rely on human strength or use animals such as goats and donkeys to carry heavy building materials up the mountains.

Can You See the Great Wall of China from Space

Even today, many people believe the claim that the Great Wall of China is visible to the naked eye from space. This idea originated in 1754 when English scholar William Stukeley mentioned it in his family memoirs. Later, journalist Henry Norman included this myth in his book, spreading its popularity.

But actually, you can't see the Great Wall from space or even from the moon. It is difficult to see the Great Wall from the low Earth orbit because it looks like a natural landscape and isn't much wider than many roads or rivers.

However, satellites with good cameras can take pictures of the Great Wall from space. So, while you can't see it with your eyes from space, you can see it in satellite images.

Why Should You Visit the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a must-see attraction. Visiting the Great Wall is not just about viewing an ancient structure; it's about experiencing a significant part of human history, admiring amazing architecture, enjoying stunning landscapes, and learning more about Chinese culture.

The Great Wall is the building project with the longest duration and greatest cost in human lives. It truly deserves its place as one of "the New Seven Wonders of the World" and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chairman Mao once said, "Until you reach the Great Wall, you're no hero." This highlights the importance and challenge of the Wall.

Over the years, many world leaders and famous people have visited the Great Wall, including Russian President Putin, U.S. President Obama, Indian Prime Minister Nehru, and British physicist Stephen Hawking.

Recommended Great Wall Tour:

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When Is The Best Time To Visit the Great Wall of China

You can visit the Great Wall any time of the year. If you ask about weather and scenery, Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are often the best times to go. The weather is usually nice and warm then.

However, how much you enjoy your visit often depends on good planning. If your trip isn't well organized, even perfect weather and beautiful views might not make it great.

For more details, read the Best Time to Visit the Great Wall.

Which Section of the Great Wall to Visit

Here are the most popular sections of the Great Wall recommended for tourists.

Mutianyu: the most impressive fully-restored section of the Great Wall, highly popular among foreigners.
Jinshanling: the most popular hiking route on the Great Wall, featuring the most beautiful original architecture.
Simatai: the only section open for night tours, adjacent to Gubei Water Town.
Jiankou: the section that appears on most postcards, known for its wild, steep, and dangerous terrain.
Badaling: the best-preserved section, highly popular among world leaders and Chinese tourists, and also the most crowded.

For additional recommendations, please visit the Top Sections of the Great Wall in Beijing.

More Sections of the Great Wall:

How Do You Get to the Great Wall of China

Although the Great Wall stretches across many provinces and cities in northern China, the most well-preserved sections are near Beijing.

To visit the Great Wall, you first need to arrive in Beijing. There is no direct public transportation to the Great Wall, so it is recommended to take a taxi or arrange a private transfer. The drive from downtown Beijing to various sections of the Great Wall typically takes between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

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