Great Wall of China facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Wall of China |
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萬里長城 / 万里长城
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The Ming Dynasty Great Wall at Jinshanling
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| General information | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Country | China |
| Coordinates | 40°41′N 117°14′E / 40.68°N 117.23°E |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 13,171 mi (21,197 km) |
| Official name: The Great Wall | |
| Type: | Cultural |
| Criteria: | i, ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Designated: | 1987 (11th session) |
| Reference #: | 438 |
| State Party: | China |
| Region: | Asia-Pacific |
The Great Wall of China is a very old and long wall in China. It was built to protect China from attacks by enemies from the north. This amazing wall is made from different materials. These include cement, rocks, bricks, and even powdered dirt.
The Great Wall is the longest structure ever built by humans. It stretches for about 13,171 mi (21,197 km). It is also very wide, about 30 ft (0.0091 km), and tall, around 50 ft (15 m). The oldest parts of the wall were made from packed dirt and stone. Later, during the Ming Dynasty, builders started using bricks. Along the wall, there are thousands of watchtowers and blockhouses for soldiers. There are also beacons that were used to send smoke signals.
Many walls have been called the Great Wall of China over time. The first one was built over 2,700 years ago. The most famous part was built by Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. This was around 226–200 BC, during the Qin Dynasty. Not much of this original wall remains today. The wall you see in pictures was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty.
Contents
History of the Great Wall
Why the Great Wall Was Built
The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, started the Qin Dynasty. He faced enemies called the Xiongnu tribes from the north. Some parts of China's land were easy for enemies to cross. So, Qin Shi Huang began building the Great Wall. His goal was to make it much harder for the Xiongnu to invade China.
Building Through the Dynasties
Other ruling families, called dynasties, continued to work on the wall. They made it longer and stronger. The Han, Sui, Northern, and Jin Dynasties all helped. They repaired old parts, rebuilt sections, or made the wall even bigger.
The biggest rebuilding effort happened during the Ming Dynasty. During this time, many parts of the wall were built with strong bricks and stone. This was a change from the earlier earth sections. It took more than 2,000 years for the Great Wall to be completed.
How the Great Wall Was Built
Materials and Workers
Builders used materials that were easy to find nearby. For example, some parts of the wall were made from mud, straw, and twigs. Building the wall was very hard work. Thousands of workers faced tough conditions.
There is a common story that workers who died were buried inside the wall. However, this is just a myth. It is not true.
Can You See the Great Wall from Space?
There are many rumors that you can see the Great Wall from the Moon. But this is not scientifically proven. The wall has appeared in radar images taken from space. However, scientists are not sure if astronauts can see it clearly with their own eyes.
Neil Armstrong, the first person on the Moon, said the wall was definitely not visible from there. Another astronaut, William R. Pogue, said he could see the wall from a height of 185 to 330 miles. But he needed binoculars and a lot of practice to spot it.
Cool Facts About the Great Wall
- The Great Wall stretches across 15 regions in northern China.
- About 50 million people visit the wall every year.
- The most popular part to visit is called Badaling, which is close to Beijing.
- The height of the wall changes a lot. Some parts are near sea level, while others are as high as 4,722 feet.
- Builders used sticky rice as a type of mortar to hold bricks together.
- The workers who built the wall included soldiers, farmers who were forced to help, convicts, and prisoners of war.
- Arsenic was sometimes used to stop insects from damaging parts of the wall.
- A section of the Great Wall helped protect the old trade route known as the Silk Road.
- One popular legend says a helpful dragon drew the path for the wall. Workers then followed this path.
- Every May, a special race called the Great Wall Marathon takes place on the wall.
- In some places, the Great Wall is wide enough to drive a car over it!
Images for kids
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Huayi tu, a 1136 map of China with the Great Wall depicted on the northern edge of the country
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The Great Wall of the Qin stretches from Lintao to Liaodong
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The Great Wall of the Han is the longest of all walls, from Mamitu near Yumenguan to Liaodong
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The extent of the Ming Empire and its walls
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Part of the Great Wall of China (April 1853, X, p. 41)
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The Great Wall in 1907
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A more rural portion of the Great Wall that stretches through the mountains, here seen in slight disrepair
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Identical satellite images of a section of the Great Wall in northern Shanxi, running diagonally from lower left to upper right and not to be confused with the more prominent river running from upper left to lower right. In the image on the right, the Great Wall has been outlined in red. The region pictured is 7 mi × 7 mi (11 km × 11 km).
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Great Wall of Han dynasty near Yumenguan.
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Ming dynasty Great Wall at Jinshanling
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Remains of Beacon tower near Yumenguan, 2011
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"The First Mound" – at Jiayu Pass, the western terminus of the Ming wall
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The Great Wall near Jiayu Pass
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Ming Great Wall remnant near Yinchuan
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The Great Wall remnant at Yulin
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The Great Wall at Badaling
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The Juyongguan area of the Great Wall accepts numerous tourists each day
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Gateway of Gubeikou Fortress
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Environmental protection sign near Great Wall, 2011
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Ming Great Wall at Simatai, overlooking the gorge
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Mutianyu Great Wall. This is atop the wall on a section that has not been restored
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The Old Dragon Head, the Great Wall where it meets the sea in the vicinity of Shanhai Pass
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The Great Wall at dawn
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Inside the watchtower
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Badaling Great Wall during winter
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See also
In Spanish: Gran Muralla China para niños
