Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. The defensive system of the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.

Collectively, these frontier walls span nearly 22,000 kilometers, or more than 13,000 miles. They stretch from Liaodong in the east to Lop Lake in the west, from the present-day Sino-Russian border in the north to Tao River (Taohe) in the south, along an arc that roughly delineates the edge of the Mongolian steppe.

Subject ID: 128928

More

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. The defensive system of the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.

Collectively, these frontier walls span nearly 22,000 kilometers, or more than 13,000 miles. They stretch from Liaodong in the east to Lop Lake in the west, from the present-day Sino-Russian border in the north to Tao River (Taohe) in the south, along an arc that roughly delineates the edge of the Mongolian steppe.

Several walls were built as early as the 7th century BC, with selected stretches later connected by Qin Shi Huang (220-206 BC), the first emperor of China. Little of the Qin wall remains. Many successive dynasties later built and maintained multiple stretches of border walls. The best-known sections of the wall were built by the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

Subject ID: 128928

Less