The Great Wall of China is famous around the world for its architecture and beauty. Many people around the world include this as a part of their travel destination. Aside from its beauty, many people want to visit the place to satisfy their curiosity and fascination for the place.
The famed infrastructure was one of the largest building-construction projects in history. It is an ancient series of walls and fortifications in northern China that spans more than 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall begins in the province of Hebei at Shanhaiguan and ends in the province of Gansu at Jiayuguan. The composition of the main body includes walls, horse paths, watchtowers, and shelters on the wall.
The Great Wall is actually a collection of walls, many of which are parallel to one another. The construction took over the course of two millennia in northern China and southern Mongolia. The most extensive and best-preserved version of the wall dates to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). As it snakes across the Chinese countryside, this wall frequently follows the crest lines of hills and mountains. In addition, about one-fourth of its length consists solely of natural barriers such as rivers and mountain ridges. The remainder (approximately 70 percent of the total length) consists primarily of constructed walls, with the remainder consisting of ditches or moats. Even though significant portions of the wall are now in ruins or have vanished, it remains one of the most remarkable structures on Earth.
History of The Great China Wall
Emperor Qin Shi Huang originally conceived the idea of The Great Wall in the third century B.C. as a means of deterring incursions by nomadic barbarians. It is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of China and its long and colorful history. During the Ming dynasty, the construction of the best-known and best-preserved section of the Great Wall happened between the 14th and 17th centuries A.D. Although the Great Wall never effectively prevented invaders from entering China, it became a potent symbol of the enduring strength of Chinese civilization.
In addition, the construction of The Great Wall occurred during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). It became the largest military structure in the world. Its architectural significance rivals only its historical and strategic significance.
Fortifications
Despite the fact that the construction of the Great Wall of China began in the fifth century B.C., many of its fortifications date back to when China was divided into a number of separate kingdoms. This period is the so-called Warring States Period.
Around 220 B.C., Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China under the Qin Dynasty, ordered that earlier fortifications between states are removed and a number of existing walls along the northern border are joined into a single system that would extend for more than 10,000 li (a li is approximately a third of a mile) and protect China from northern invasions.
The construction of the 10,000-Li-Long Wall was one of the most ambitious building projects ever undertaken by any civilization. The renowned Chinese general Meng Tian was rumored to have employed a massive number of people. This includes an army of soldiers, convicts, and commoners to work on the project.
From a base of 15 to 50 feet, the Great Wall rose to a height of 15 to 30 feet; guard towers were placed at intervals along its length. The Majority of the workers were soldiers and prisoners. According to legend, as many as 400 thousand people perished during the construction of the wall; many of these workers were buried within the wall itself.
Despite the stories of its construction, The Great China Wall remains to become part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.