How Tall is the Great Wall
In the past, the purpose of the Great Wall was to defend against foreign invasions. You may wonder at what altitude it needed to be built. The Great Wall has an average height of 7.8 meters (25 feet), with its altitude of the highest part reaching 4, 300 meters (1, 4107 feet), located in Qinghai province.
How Tall is the Wall of the Great Wall
The Great Wall is mainly composed of 3 parts: walls, watchtowers, and beacon towers. The average height of the wall is 7.8 meters (25 feet), with the highest part reaching 14 meters (46 feet). 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 wall of Great Wall is the main part of this defense project, built between high mountains and plains according to the terrain and defensive needs. To save manpower, it is constructed to be tall in flat areas and low in higher terrain.
How Wide is the Great Wall of China
The plane of the Great Wall is trapezoidal, with a foundation width of 6.5 meters (21 feet) and a floor width of 5.8 meters (19 feet). It can accommodate 5 horses or 10 people. The width of the beacon tower is 5 to 8 meters (16 to 26 feet), and the width of the watchtower varies with the terrain.
How Thick is the Great Wall of China
The construction materials of the Great Wall varied according to the geographical environment, and the walls were mainly divided into several forms, including earth walls, stone walls, and brick walls, with a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 meters (1.6 to 2.7 feet).
What is the Altitude of the Great Wall-the Highest Part and the Lowest Part
The Great Wall starts from Jiayuguan in Gansu Province in the west and extends to Shanghaiguan in Hebei Province in the east. The highest part in altitude is Datong Section where far away from Beijing Tiananmen Square 1, 600 kilometers, and its height reaches 4, 300 meters (about 1, 4107 feet)
The Datong section is located on the Niangniang Mountain in Datong County, Xining City, Qinghai Province. It is the most well-preserved section of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall in Qinghai Province and is known as the "Badaling of Qinghai".
The lowest part is Laolongtou, only 25 meters (82 feet) above sea level, located on the coastline of the Bohai Sea.
The Height of the Famous Part of the Great Wall
| Section | Location | Wall Height | Highest Altitude | Time (Take a Bus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badaling | Yanqing District, Beijing | 6-9 meters | 888.9 meters | 90 minutes |
| Mutianyu | Huairou District, Beijing | 6-9 meters | 1039.6 meters | 90 minutes |
| Jiankou | Huairou District, Beijing | Unknown | 1044 meters | 3 hours |
| Juyongguan | Changping District, Beijing | Unknown | 1000 meters | 1 hour |
| Simatai | Miyun District, Beijing | Unknown | 986 meters | 2 hours |
| Jinshanling | Chengde, Hebei Province | 5-8 meters | More than 700 meters | - |
| Jiayuguan | Jiayuguan, Gansu Province | 10.7 meters | Unknown | - |
Which Section of the Great Wall is Worth Visiting
The Badaling Great Wall is a famous World Heritage Site, currently the most popular and well-preserved section. Badaling is divided into the north and south lines, with the north boasting shorter and steeper sections, while there are fewer people in the south. However, the Great Wall at Badaling is usually crowded all around. You can go to Mutianyu for better travel. Here are the best ways to go to the Great Wall from Beijing, which may be helpful for you.
The magnificent scenery of the Mutianyu Great Wall attracts numerous tourists. In spring and autumn, the cherry blossom and red leaves on the Great Wall draw large crowds of visitors for sightseeing. Upon climbing the Great Wall, one can see the greenery of the mountains and the villages below, experiencing the beauty of nature.