The Great Wall of Ancient Chinese architecture

The construction of the Great Wall started during the Warring States period for defence against the northern tribes and continued in the Qin Dynasty. The construction work of the Great Wall went through more than 2,000 years. This huge wall stretches over 6,700 kilometers.

From Shanhaiguan, northeast of Qinhuangdao City in Hebei Province in the east coast, the Great Wall rises and falls westward, crossing the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Gansu and ends at Jiayuguan, southwest of Jiayuguan City in Gansu Province .

The Great Wall

The Great Wall comprises walls, passes, watchtowers, castles and fortresses. Every stone, brick, lumber, and bit of earth of it embodies the stamina and intelligence of the Chinese nation. The present Great Wall was completed in the Ming Dynasty following the construction work done in the past dynasties of Qin, Han, Northern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Song and Yuan.

The best-preserved and most imposing section is at Badaling in Beijing. It is made of large blue bricks and has an average height of 7.8 meters. Five to six horses can be ridden abreast along it. The walls are covered with many lookoutholes, window embrasures and castel crenels. Beacon towers were also built at fixed intervals for passing on military information. It is a great achievement of the ancient Chinese engineering. It is one of the great wonders in the world.

hancheng

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