The Great Wall of China is located in northern China, and stretches for over 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) across several provinces, including Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. The most famous and well-preserved section of the Great Wall is the one that runs through northern Beijing, which is also the most popular section for tourists to visit.
Map of the great wall of china
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe.
Where does the great wall of china start and end?
The Great Wall of China stretches for over 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) across several provinces in northern China. It is not a single continuous wall but is made up of many sections built by different Chinese dynasties over the course of more than 2,000 years. The Great Wall begins in the east at the Shanhai Pass in Hebei province, which is located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Beijing. From there, it stretches westward through northern China, passing through several provinces including Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai.
The westernmost end of the Great Wall of China is at the Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu province, which is located about 1,500 miles (2,500 kilometers) west of Beijing. However, the Great Wall continues to stretch further west beyond Jiayuguan Pass along the Gobi desert.
It’s worth noting that the Great Wall is not a single line, but many branches and fortifications which makes the end or start point hard to define, and it’s also hard to say where the Great Wall begins or ends. It’s the longest wall in the world, and the only way to truly see it all is to visit the different sections of the Great Wall over a period of time.
Who built the great wall of china?
The Great Wall of China was built by many Chinese dynasties over a period of more than 2,000 years. The earliest parts of the Great Wall were built during the 7th century BC, by the state of Qi in order to defend against raids by the neighboring state of Chu.
During the 5th century BC, the state of Qi built the first fortifications along the current line of the Great Wall. This was followed by the building of walls by the state of Yan and the state of Zhao in the 4th century BC, in order to defend against raids by the nomadic Xiongnu tribe.
The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the joining of the walls built by the different states during the 3rd century BC in order to create a unified defense system against the Xiongnu. He also ordered the building of new sections of the wall, including the famous “10,000 li Great Wall” (a li is a Chinese unit of measurement, about a third of a mile).
During the following Han dynasty and later dynasties, the Great Wall was continuously rebuilt and expanded upon, with the addition of barracks, towers, and other fortifications. The Great Wall served not only as a military defense but also as a means of controlling and taxing trade along the Silk Road.
The Ming dynasty (1368–1644) built the Great Wall that we see today, which is mostly made of bricks and stones. The wall built during Ming is the most well-preserved and also the most visited by tourists. It’s also the longest and best-known section of the Great Wall of China.
Great wall of china facts
- The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world, stretching over 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) across several provinces in northern China.
- It is not a single continuous wall but is made up of many sections built by different Chinese dynasties over the course of more than 2,000 years.
- The Great Wall was built to protect China from invasions by nomadic tribes from the north and northwest.
- The Great Wall was mostly built of brick, tamped earth, stone, and other materials.
- The Great Wall is not visible from space with the naked eye but is visible from low Earth orbit.
- The Great Wall has many watchtowers, and beacon towers, and passes along the Wall, which served as military fortifications and communication hubs.
- The Great Wall was a significant economic and social burden on China, with many soldiers and civilians conscripted to build and maintain the wall over the centuries.
- Many sections of the Great Wall have been lost to erosion and neglect over time.
- The Great Wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and has become a popular tourist destination.
- The Great wall not only served as a barrier, but it also played an important role in taxation and control of the trade route along the Silk Road.
- The Great Wall also served as a reference for border disputes or negotiations for different dynasties throughout history.
Great wall of china from space
The Great Wall of China is a very large and extensive structure, but it is not visible from space to the naked eye. However, it is visible from low Earth orbit, from distances of around 200 miles (300 kilometers) or less. From this distance, the Great Wall appears as a thin line that winds its way across the northern Chinese landscape.
It is worth noting that while the Great Wall is not visible from space with the naked eye, it is often said that it is the only man-made object visible from space, however, this statement is incorrect. Many man-made structures are visible from space, depending on the lighting and weather conditions, including roads, airports, bridges, large buildings, etc. And the Great wall is no exception, it’s also one of the man-made objects that can be seen from space.
As satellite technology is getting more advanced and accessible, nowadays some commercial satellites are able to capture much higher resolution images and maps of the earth including The Great Wall of China. So, using those images and maps you can see the details of the Great wall from space.
How old is the great wall of china?
The Great Wall of China is an ancient fortification that was built over a period of more than 2,000 years. The earliest parts of the Great Wall were built during the 7th century BC, by the state of Qi in order to defend against raids by the neighboring state of Chu.
During the following centuries, various Chinese dynasties added to and rebuilt sections of the wall, creating the Great Wall as we know it today. The First emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the joining of the walls built by the different states during the 3rd century BC in order to create a unified defense system against the nomadic Xiongnu tribes. He also ordered the building of new sections of the wall, including the famous “10,000 li Great Wall” (a li is a Chinese unit of measurement, about a third of a mile).
The Great Wall as we know it today is mostly the work of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) who spent centuries strengthening and expanding the wall, building it mostly of bricks and stones. This is the most well-preserved and also the most visited section by tourists.
Which city is closest to the great wall of china?
The closest city to the Great Wall of China depends on which section of the Great Wall you are referring to. The Great Wall of China stretches for over 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) across several provinces in northern China, passing through many different cities and rural areas.
The most famous and well-preserved section of the Great Wall, which runs through northern Beijing, the closest city is, of course, Beijing, which is the capital of China. The Great Wall’s most famous section is located around 70 km (43 miles) from the city center and is a popular tourist destination. There are several watchtowers and passes along this section, and you can take a day trip from the city to visit it.
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