Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China or the Great Wall of China (Traditional Chinese: 长城; Simplified Chinese: 长城; pinyin: Chángchéng), also known in China as the Great Wall Along the 10,000 Li ¹ (万里长城; 万里长城; Wanli Chángchéng) is the longest building ever built by humans, is located in the People's Republic of China.

Its length is 6400 kilometers (from the area Sanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur in the west) and the height of 8 meters in order to prevent the incursion of North Mongoldari nation at that time. The width of the top 5 m, while the bottom width of 8 m. Every 180-270 m made a kind of watchtower. High watchtower is 11-12 m.

To make this giant wall, it could take hundreds of years at the time of the various emperors. Initially, Qin Shi-huang is estimated that commence construction of the wall, but according to the research literature, history and records, the wall was already made before the Qin Dynasty stand, precisely was first built in Warring States Period. Emperor Qin Shi-huang continue development and strengthening of the wall that was built earlier.

After the death of Qin Shi-huang, making this wall had been halted and only resumed in Sui Dynasty, the last resumed again at the time of the Ming Dynasty. Form the Great Wall, which we now see is the result of development of the Sun earlier era. The inside of the wall containing soil mixed with bricks and rocks. The top was made the main road to the Chinese cavalry.

Historical development of the Great Wall of China can be traced to the 9th century BC. At that time, the Chinese government in the middle connecting the castle and the fire tower which is a military checkpoint on the border into one long wall in order to fend off ethnic groups from northern China. Until the Chunqiu Period and Warring States, the battle raged on between the countries confront each other principality.

Those countries for its own defenses in a row to build a big wall on the hill and mountain, located on the border. In the year 221 BC, Emperor Qinshihuang unify China. After that, Emperor Qinshihuang ordered that the walls built by various countries principality was spliced ​​into a big wall as fortifications to fend off cavalry attacks nomadic ethnic groups in Mongolia grassland of north China.

Great Wall at that time reached 5,000 kilometers in length. The Great Wall of coordination after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty Han extended to 10 thousand miles more. In the history of 2000 years ago, the ruler at various times never stop building the Great Wall so that the total length reached 50 thousand kilometers, enough to orbit the earth once more.

Great Wall which we call the great wall are now mostly built in the Ming Dynasty which ruled between the years 1368 and 1644. Stems from the western tip of Jiayu Fortress in West China's Gansu Province and the eastern tip of the Yalu River is situated on the edge of Northeast China's Liaoning Province after passing through 9 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions along the 7300 kilometers, or equal to 14 thousand li of China. Thus, the Great Wall is known as the "long wall 10 thousand li" in Chinese.

As a stronghold of defense, the Great Wall was built by following the course of mountain peaks. Passed very complicated topography, among others, Gurung sand, grassland and marsh. To adjust to its topography, the construction of the Great Wall of implementing the structure implemented extraordinary and different. All this shows the intelligence of the ancestors of Chinese nation.

Great Wall winding along the mountain peaks mamanjang almost impossible to be conquered by enemies in ancient times because of the mountains and the slopes on which the wall was too steep to climb.

The Great Wall was built with big stones inserted in the soil and rock fragments. Height of approximately 10 meters and a width of approximately 5 meters, enough for 4 horses running side by side. Thus, it is very easy to maneuver troops and transporting food and weapons. On the side of the wall was built doors and stairs to climb down.

Great Wall connected with the castle or tower fire every sector, where the stored weapons and food supplies. Fortress and the fire tower was used as a resting place for soldiers in peace time and is a stronghold of defense to ward off enemy attacks during the war. Also, once known to the enemy's aggression, the fire tower will be lit the fire at night and smoke during the day so that news of an enemy attack could spread throughout the country in the near future.

In the important sector of the Great Wall, such as strategic path, the crack of the mountain and sea borders of the mountain with a large gate is usually constructed loft. The attic-loft that gate not only looks magnificent, but also reflects the brilliant art of the ancient Chinese architecture. Now some of the attic that gate has been turned into a tourist attraction, for example attic Shanhaiguan Gate at the east end of the Great Wall, dubbed as China's number one gate attic and attic Juyongguan Gate of the Great Wall at Badaling sector around Beijing.

Functions of the Great Wall as military fortifications are now no longer exists, but the beauty of its architecture remains very impressive.

The beauty of the Great Wall is reflected in the grandeur, power and greatness. Remove the view from a place far to the Great Wall, the huge high wall that extends for thousands of miles it looked like a gigantic dragon-geliut menggeliang down the mountain, when viewed from close range, then the wall was filled with art attraction with diverse architecture.


The Great Wall is a hard-earned sweat and blood soaked and impregnated wit the Chinese people in ancient times. How heavy construction projects on the ancient Great Wall that is still low earning power is hard to imagine.