Beijing China | The Great Wall

The Wànli Chángchéng 'Long Wall' of China

Despite the popular Chinese misconception that the Great Wall "can be seen from the moon," the wall is one of the greatest civil engineering projects in human history. TheChángchéng, or "long wall" is actually a series of walls spanning an incredible 4,000 miles (6,400 km).

Construction of the "Great Wall of China" began as early as the 5th century BC, but it was the Emperor Qin Shi Huang who is credited with the construction of significant sections of the wall between 220 BC and 200 BC. Under Qin Shi Huang's leadership, China was unified, and the wall was built to minimize incursions from the Xiongnu people of Mongolia, to the northwest of Beijing.

Although Qin Shi Huang did contribute profoundly to the Great Wall's construction, the totality of the wall's many parts were built over many successive dynasties, from the Chunqiu Shídài "Spring and Autumn Period," in the 8th century BC, to the the late Ming Dynasty in the 1600s.

Great Wall Construction

The wall is built along the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, stretching from Shanhaiguan, or " Pass of Mountain and Sea," in the Hebei province of northeastern China, to Lop Nurin the southeastern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

Several construction techniques were employed, depending on the natural resources at hand in a given geographic location. The wall is constructed primarily of stone, or 'rammed earthen' blocks, or gravel filled between frames of timber.

The Manchu Invasion

The Great Wall was successful in preventing many attempts to invade China until the early 1600s. The wall's unbroken success as an impenetrable defense-perimeter for China came to a bitter end in 1644.

After several unsuccessful attempts by the Manchurian army to breach the wall, a rogue general named Wu Sangui opened the gates at Shanhai Pass in the Yan Mountains, north of Bohai; allowing the advancing Manchu army to enter Beijing. The Ming Dynasty was defeated, and the Manchu led Qing Dynasty was ushered in.

Juyóng-Guan Section of Great Wall

Although most of the original wall is in ruins, there are several sections that have been restored to their original state. The most popular section of the wall is located about 50 kilometers north of Beijing, in the Guangou Valley, at Ju-Yong-Guan, or "Long Wall Mountain Pass." This section was built during the Qing Dynasty, under Emperor Qinshihuang.

Other restored sections of the Great Wall are the Badaling section located in Yanqing County, 60 kilometers northwest of Beijing, and the Mutianyu section located in Huairou County, approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Beijing.