The Great Wall of China is an ancient defense project which has consumed the longest construction time in the world. Since the the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 771 BC), different sections of the great wall have been continuously constructed for more than 2500 years. Scattered in the vast land of northern and central China, the Great Wall stretches over 20,000 kilometers.
How Old is the Great Wall of China
From the beginning of the Warring States Period to today, the oldest great wall site has a history of about 2500 years. Even the most commonly visited Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty has a history of four or five hundred years.
When did the Great Wall of China Start
The history of the Great Wall can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 771 BC). In order to defend against the attack of nomadic people in the north, the Zhou Dynasty used it for military defense. The earliest building was the "Chu Fangcheng" (楚方城) in the 7th century BC. Later, the small States, such as Qi, Han, Wei, Zhao, Yan, Qin, Zhongshan also built the "Great Wall of Duke Mutual Defence" to defend themselves.
When was the Great Wall of China Finished
By the time of emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1622 AD - 1722 AD), although large-scale construction of the Great Wall had stopped, it had been built in some places since then. It can be said that the construction of the Great Wall had not stopped for more than 2500 years from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1616 AD - 1912 AD).
Which Dynasty Built the Great Wall of China
Almost all the dynasties that ruled the Central Plains of China has built the Great Wall. There are more than ten dynasties, including Pre-Qin, Qin, Han, Sui, Song, Ming, Qing dynasties, which built the Great Wall on different scales.
The Pre-Qin Dynasty (7 Cen. BC – 3 Cen. BC)
The Great Wall of the Pre-Qin Dynasty can be roughly divided into the North Great Wall and the South Great Wall according to the object of defense. The main purpose for the great wall is to resist the attack from other kingdoms.
The Qin Dynasty (214 BC – 204 BC)
The first emperor, Qin Shihuang unified China in 221 BC. In order to maintain and consolidate the security of the Great Empire, Qin Shihuang began to order the construction of the Great Wall, which connected all the dukes’ great wall and built it into the Qin Great Wall, stretching far for over 10,000 kilometers.
The Han Dynasty (201 BC – 8 AD)
During the period of Emperor Wudi of Han Dynasty (156 BC - 87 BC), he launched many wars against Huns. To expel them, he ordered to restore the Great Wall of Qin Dynasty and built the Great Wall of Outer China. At this time, the Great Wall was about 10,000 kilometers long, and its main function was to attack and defence.
The Sui Dynasty (581 AD – 608 AD)
In order to deal with the South attack from the Turks in north, Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty used the Great Wall for defense since the founding of Sui’s empire.
The Song Dynasty (960 AD– 1279 AD)
The construction began in Mingchang five years (1194) and was stopped in the same year because of drought.
The Ming Dynasty (1368 AD – 1620 AD)
During the ruling period of Ming Dynasty, the construction of the Great Wall hardly stopped in over 200 years. The most common scenic site of the Great Wall belongs to the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty.
The Qing Dynasty (1638 AD – 1878 AD)
The Qing Dynasty was the last feudal dynasty in China. The Great Wall was built to maintain unity. The Great Wall was relatively rough, short and not much preserved.
The Great Wall of China in Qin Dynasty
The Great Wall of China in Han Dynasty
The Great Wall of China in Ming Dynasty
How to Plan a Great Wall Hiking Tour
There are many stunning Great Walls in Beijing offering you the marvellous views, including Mutianyu Great Wall, Jiankou Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall, Badaling Great Wall and Huanghuacheng Great Wall. Exploring the representative Jinshanling Great Wall and the only lakeside Huanghuacheng Great Wall, trekking on steep mountain ridge of Jiankou Great and the near section of the better preserved Mutianyu Great Wall, admiring the famous and renovated Badaling Great Wall, you can encounter different sparking sides of each section and commemorate the man-made wonder of the ancient Chinese people. China Discovery offers you tailor-made tour service, and you can fully experience all the famous great walls in 2 days. If you have more time, it's also recommended to explore other attractions in Beijing, such as the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and More!
Top-Recommended Great Wall Hiking Tour
>> 2 Days Mutianyu and Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
>> 2 Days Jinshanling and Simatai Great Wall Wild Hiking
>> 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Great Wall Hiking
Great Wall of China Facts
- Why was the Great Wall of China Built
- How Old is the Great Wall of China
- Can You See the Great Wall from Space
- How was the Great Wall of China Built
- Where is the Great Wall of China Located
- Who Built the Great Wall of China
- How Long is the Great Wall of China
- How Big is the Great Wall of China
- How Tall is the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China Guide
- Great Wall Facts
- Best Time to Visit Great Wall
- Great Wall Transfer Guide
- Great Wall Maps
- Which Section of Great Wall to Visit
- Great Wall Hiking
- Great Wall Trip Planing Guide
- Where to Eat around Great Wall
- Great Wall Travel Guide
- Travel Great Wall of China
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(Video) How The Great Wall Of China Was Built
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FAQs
When was the Great Wall of China built? ›
The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers.
Why was the Great Wall of China constructed short answer? ›The Great Wall of China was built over centuries by China's emperors to protect their territory. Today, it stretches for thousands of miles along China's historic northern border.
How long is the Great Wall of China and when was it completed? ›The Building of the Ming Great Wall — 276 Years
The latest imperial construction was performed by the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), and the total length of the Great Wall reached over 8851.8 km (5,500 miles). This is the wall often referred to today when we talk about the Great Wall.
The 'Great Wall of China' is the only structure on earth which can be seen from the moon. It is 2900 kilometres long, 22 feet high and 20 feet wide with watch towers at intervals. It has 10,000 towers.It was built by the Chinese ruler Shi-Hwang-ti to prevent an invasion by Tartars.
What is the Great Wall of China short answer? ›The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states. It is the longest structure humans have ever built. It is about 21,196 kilometers long, 9.1 metres (30 feet) wide and 15 metres high.
Why did construction of the Great Wall begin over 2000 years ago? ›At that time, Yan, Zhao, and Qin states were often harassed by the powerful northern nomadic tribes, and they built walls and stationed troops on garrisons along their northern borders. Construction of the series of Great Walls thus began.
When and why was the Great Wall of China built? ›For centuries during the Warring States Period, before China was unified into one nation, such walls defended the borders. Around 220 B.C.E., Qin Shi Huang, also called the First Emperor, united China. He masterminded the process of uniting the existing walls into one.
What are 5 facts about the Great Wall of China? ›- The total length of the Great Wall is 21196.18 km. ...
- There are 15 strategic passes from the East to the West. ...
- It took over 2,000 years to construct the wall. ...
- It is not a wall but a series of fortifications. ...
- Various materials were used to build the Great Wall.