The width of the Chinese wall in meters. Great Wall of China: interesting facts

Great Chinese Wall- one of the largest and oldest monuments of architecture in the world. Its total length is 8851.8 km, in one of the sections it runs near Beijing. The construction process of this structure is amazing in its scale. We will tell you about the most interesting facts and events from the history of the Wall

To begin with, let's delve a little into the history of the great building. It is hard to imagine how much time and human resources it takes to build a structure of this magnitude. It is unlikely that somewhere else in the world there is a building with such a long, great and at the same time tragic history. The construction of the Great Wall of China began as early as the 3rd century BC during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty, during the Warring States period (475-221 BC). In those days, the state was in dire need of protection from the attacks of enemies, in particular the nomadic people of the Xiongnu. A fifth of the population of China was involved in the work, at that time it was about a million people

The wall was supposed to be the extreme northern point of the planned expansion of the Chinese, as well as to protect the subjects of the "Celestial Empire" from being drawn into a semi-nomadic lifestyle, and assimilation with the barbarians. It was planned to clearly define the boundaries of the great Chinese civilization, to promote the unification of the empire into a single whole, since China was just beginning to form from a multitude of conquered states. Here are the boundaries of the Wall of China on the map:

During the period of the Han Dynasty (206 - 220 BC), the building was expanded to the west to Dunhuang. Many watchtowers were built to protect trade caravans from attacks by warring nomads. Almost all sections of the Great Wall that have survived to this day were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During this period, they built mainly from bricks and blocks, due to which the structure became stronger and more reliable. During this time, the Wall ran from east to west from Shanhaiguan on the coast of the Yellow Sea to the Yumenguan outpost on the border of the provinces of Gansu and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

The Qing Dynasty of Manchuria (1644-1911) broke the resistance of the defenders of the Wall due to the betrayal of Wu Sangui. During this period, the building was treated with great disdain. During the three centuries of the Qing in power Great Wall was almost destroyed by time. Only a small section of it, passing near Beijing - Badaling - was kept in order - it was used as a "gateway to the capital". Nowadays, this section of the wall is the most popular among tourists - it was the very first open to the public back in 1957, and also served as the finish point for the cycling race at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It was visited by US President Nixon In 1899, newspapers in the United States wrote that the wall would be dismantled, and a highway would be laid in its place

In 1984, at the initiative of Deng Xiaoping, a program was organized to restore Chinese wall, financial assistance from Chinese and foreign companies was attracted. A collection was also held among individuals, everyone could donate any amount

The total length of the Great Wall of China is 8,851 kilometers and 800 meters. Just think about this figure, is it really impressive?

In our time, a 60-kilometer section of the wall in the Shanxi region in northwest China is undergoing active erosion. main reason This is why intensive farming methods in the country, when, starting from the 1950s, gradually dried up The groundwater, and the region has become the epicenter of the emergence of extremely strong sandstorms. More than 40 kilometers of the wall have already been destroyed, and only 10 kilometers are still in place, but the height of the wall has been partially reduced from five to two meters.

The Great Wall was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 as one of China's greatest historical landmarks. In addition, this is one of the most visited attractions in the world - about 40 million tourists visit here every year.

A lot of myths and legends roam around such a large-scale structure. For example, the fact that this is a solid, continuous wall built in one go is a real myth. In reality, the wall is a discontinuous network of separate segments built by various dynasties to protect China's northern border.

During construction, the Great Wall of China was nicknamed the longest cemetery on the planet, as a large number of people died at the construction site. According to approximate calculations, the construction of the wall cost the lives of more than one million people.

It is logical that such a hulk has broken and still holds many records. The most significant of them is the longest structure ever built by man.

As I wrote above, the Great Wall was built as a set individual elements in different times. Each province built its own wall and gradually they united into a single whole. In those days, protective structures were simply necessary, and were built everywhere. In total, more than 50,000 kilometers of defensive walls have been erected in China over the past 2,000 years.

Since the Wall of China was interrupted in some places, it was not difficult for the Mongol invaders led by Genghis Khan to raid China, and they subsequently conquered northern part countries, between 1211 and 1223. The Mongols ruled China until 1368, when they were driven out by the Ming Dynasty described above.

Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China cannot be seen from space. This pervasive myth was born in 1893 in the American magazine The Century and then re-discussed in 1932 in Robert Ripley's show, who claimed that the wall was visible from the moon - this despite the fact that the first flight into space was still very far away. In our time, it has been proven that it is quite difficult to notice a wall from space with the naked eye. Here is a picture of NASA from space, see for yourself


Another legend says that the substance used to hold the stones together was mixed with a powder of human bones, and that those who died at the construction site were buried right in the wall itself to make the structure stronger. But this is not true, the solution was made from ordinary rice flour - and there are no bones or dead in the wall structure.

For obvious reasons, this miracle was not included in the 7 ancient wonders of the world, but the Great Wall of China is rightfully included in the list of 7 new wonders of the world. Another legend says that a large fire dragon paved the way for the workers, indicating where to build the wall. Builders subsequently followed in his footsteps

Since we are talking about legends, one of the most popular is about a woman named Meng Jing Niu, the wife of a farmer working on the construction of the Great Wall. When she learned that her husband died at work, she went to the wall and cried on it until it collapsed, showing the bones of her beloved, and the wife was able to bury them

There was a whole tradition of burying those who died on the construction of the wall. Members of the family of the deceased carried the coffin, on which was a cage with a white rooster. The crowing of a rooster was supposed to keep the spirit awake dead man until the procession recounts the Great Wall. Otherwise, the spirit will forever wander along the wall.

During the Ming Dynasty, more than one million soldiers were called upon to defend the country's borders from enemies on the Great Wall. As for the builders, they were drawn from the same defenders in peacetime, peasants, simply unemployed and criminals. There was a special punishment for all convicts and the verdict was the same - to build a wall!

Especially for this construction, the Chinese invented a wheelbarrow and used it everywhere in the construction of the Great Wall. Some of the most dangerous parts of the Great Wall were surrounded by defensive ditches, which were either filled with water or left as ditches. The Chinese used advanced defense weapons such as axes, hammers, spears, crossbows, halberds, and a Chinese invention: gunpowder.

Observation towers were built along the length of the Great Wall in even sections and could be up to 40 feet high. They were used to monitor the territory, as well as fortresses and garrisons for troops. They had reserves necessary products and water. In case of danger, a signal was given from the tower, torches, special beacons or just flags were lit. The western section of the Great Wall, with a long chain of watchtowers, served to protect caravans that traveled along the Silk Road, a famous trade route.

The last battle at the wall took place in 1938 during the Sino-Japanese War. There are many traces of bullets from those times in the wall. The highest point of the Great Wall of China is at an altitude of 1534 meters, near Beijing, while the lowest point is at sea level near Laolongtu. The average height of the wall is 7 meters, and the width in some places reaches 8 meters, but in general it varies from 5 to 7 meters.


The Great Wall of China is a symbol of national pride, centuries of struggle, and greatness. The country's government spends huge amounts of money on the preservation of this architectural monument, estimated at billions of US dollars a year, hoping to save the wall for future generations.

The longest defensive structure in the world is the Great Wall of China. Interesting facts about her today are very numerous. This masterpiece of architecture is fraught with many mysteries. It causes fierce controversy among various researchers.

The length of the Great Wall of China has not yet been precisely established. It is only known that it stretched from Jiayuguan, located in the province of Gansu, to (Liaodong Bay).

Wall length, width and height

The length of the structure is about 4 thousand km, according to some sources, and according to others - more than 6 thousand km. 2450 km - the length of a straight line drawn between its end points. However, it must be borne in mind that the wall does not go straight anywhere: it either bends or turns. The length of the Great Wall of China, therefore, should be at least 6 thousand km, and possibly more. The height of the structure is on average 6-7 meters, reaching separate sections 10 meters. Width - 6 meters, that is, 5 people can walk along the wall in a row, even a small car can easily pass. On its outer side there are "teeth" made of large bricks. The inner wall is protected by a barrier, the height of which is 90 cm. Previously, there were drains in it, made through equal sections.

Start of construction

The beginning of the Great Wall of China was laid during the reign of Qin Shi Huang. He ruled the country from 246 to 210. BC e. With the name of this creator of a single Chinese state - the famous emperor - it is customary to associate the history of the construction of such a structure as the Great Wall of China. Interesting facts about it include a legend according to which it was decided to build it after one court soothsayer predicted (and the prediction came true many centuries later!) That the country would be destroyed by barbarians who came from the north. In order to protect the Qin empire from nomads, the emperor ordered the construction of defensive fortifications, unprecedented in scale. They subsequently turned into such a grand structure as the Great Wall of China.

Evidence suggests that the rulers of various principalities located in northern China erected similar walls along their borders even before the reign of Qin Shi Huang. By the time of his accession to the throne, about 2 thousand km was the total length of these ramparts. The emperor at first only strengthened and united them. This is how the Great Wall of China was formed. Interesting facts about its construction, however, do not end there.

Who built the wall?

Real fortresses were built at checkpoints. Intermediate military camps for patrolling and garrison service, watchtowers were also built. "Who built the Great Wall of China?" - you ask. Hundreds of thousands of slaves, prisoners of war and criminals were rounded up for its construction. When there were not enough workers, mass mobilization of peasants also began. Emperor Shi Huangdi, according to one of the legends, ordered to make a sacrifice to the spirits. He ordered that a million people be immured in the wall under construction. This is not confirmed by archaeological data, although single burials were found in the foundations of towers and fortresses. It is still unclear whether they were ritual sacrifices, or whether they simply buried the dead workers, those who built the Great Wall of China, in this way.

Completion of construction

Shortly before Shi Huangdi's death, the construction of the wall was completed. According to scientists, the reason for the impoverishment of the country and the turmoil that followed the death of the monarch was precisely the huge costs for the construction of defensive fortifications. Through deep gorges, valleys, deserts, along cities, across the whole of China, the Great Wall stretched, turning the state into an almost impregnable fortress.

Protective function of the wall

Many called its later construction pointless, since there would be no soldiers to defend such a long wall. But it should be noted that it served to protect against the light cavalry of various nomadic tribes. In many countries, similar structures were used against the steppes. For example, these are the Trajan's Wall built by the Romans in the 2nd century, as well as the Serpent's Walls, built in the south of Ukraine in the 4th century. Large detachments of cavalry could not overcome the wall, since the cavalry needed to break through or destroy large plot. And without special devices it was not easy to do so. Genghis Khan managed to do this in the 13th century with the help of military engineers from the Chudji, the kingdom he conquered, as well as local infantry in huge numbers.

How different dynasties took care of the wall

All subsequent rulers took care of the safety of the Great Wall of China. Only two dynasties were an exception. These are the Yuan, the Mongol dynasty, as well as the Manchu Qin (the latter, which we will talk about a little later). They controlled the lands north of the wall, so they didn't need it. The history of the construction knew different periods. There were times when the garrisons guarding it were recruited from pardoned criminals. The tower, located on the Golden Terrace of the wall, was decorated in 1345 with bas-reliefs depicting Buddhist guards.

After it was defeated during the reign of the next (Ming) in 1368-1644, work was underway to strengthen the wall and maintain the defensive structures in proper condition. Beijing, the new capital of China, was only 70 kilometers away, and its security depended on the wall.

During the reign, women were used as sentries on the towers, watching the surrounding area and, if necessary, giving an alarm signal. This was motivated by the fact that they treat their duties more conscientiously and are more attentive. There is a legend according to which the legs of the unfortunate guards were cut off so that they could not leave their post without an order.

folk tradition

We continue to reveal the topic: "The Great Wall of China: Interesting Facts". The photo of the wall below will help you imagine its greatness.

The folk legend tells about the terrible hardships that the builders of this structure had to endure. A woman named Meng Jiang came here from a remote province to bring warm clothing to her husband. However, when she reached the wall, she learned that her husband had already died. The woman was unable to find his remains. She lay down near this wall and cried for several days. Even the stones were touched by the woman's grief: one of the sections of the Great Wall collapsed, revealing the bones of Meng Jiang's husband. The woman took the remains of her husband home, where she buried them in the family cemetery.

Invasion of "barbarians" and restoration work

The wall did not save from the last large-scale invasion of the "barbarians". The overthrown aristocracy, fighting with the rebels representing the Yellow Turban movement, let numerous Manchu tribes into the country. Their leaders seized power. They founded a new dynasty in China - Qin. The Great Wall from that moment lost its defensive significance. She finally fell into disrepair. Only after 1949 did restoration work begin. The decision to start them was made by Mao Zedong. But during the "cultural revolution" that took place from 1966 to 1976, the "red guards" (Hongweibings), who did not recognize the value of ancient architecture, decided to destroy some sections of the wall. She looked, according to eyewitnesses, as if she had been attacked by the enemy.

Now not only forced laborers or soldiers were sent here. Service on the wall became a matter of honor, as well as a strong career incentive for young people from noble families. The words that the one who was not on it cannot be called a good fellow, which Mao Zedong turned into a slogan, became a new saying just then.

Great Wall of China today

Not a single description of China is complete without mentioning the Great Wall of China. Locals say that its history is half of the history of the whole country, which cannot be understood without visiting the structure. Scientists have calculated that from all the materials that were used during the Ming Dynasty in its construction, it is possible to fold a wall that is 5 meters high and 1 meter thick. It is enough to encircle the entire globe.

The Great Wall of China has no equal in grandeur. This building is visited by millions of tourists from all over the world. Its scale still amazes today. Everyone can purchase a certificate right on the spot, which indicates the time of visiting the wall. The Chinese authorities were even forced to restrict access here in order to ensure the best preservation of this great monument.

Is the wall visible from space?

For a long time it was believed that this is the only man-made object visible from space. However, this view has recently been refuted. Yang Li Wen, the first Chinese astronaut, admitted with sadness that he could not see this monumental structure, no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps the whole point is that at the time of the first space flights, the air over Northern China was much cleaner, and therefore the Great Wall of China was visible earlier. The history of creation, interesting facts about it - all this is closely connected with many traditions and legends, which this majestic building is still surrounded by today.

“A long wall of 10,000 li” is what the Chinese themselves call this miracle of ancient engineering. For a huge country with almost one and a half billion people, it has become a matter of national pride, calling card which attracts travelers from all over the world. Today, the Great Wall of China is one of the most popular attractions - approximately 40 million people visit it every year. In 1987, the unique object was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.

Locals still like to repeat that the one who did not climb the wall is not a real Chinese. This phrase, uttered by Mao Zedong, is perceived as a real call to action. Despite the fact that the height of the structure is approximately 10 meters with a width of different areas within 5-8 m (not to mention not very comfortable steps), there are no fewer foreigners who want to feel like true Chinese at least for a moment. In addition, a magnificent panorama of the surroundings opens up from a height, which you can admire endlessly.

You involuntarily wonder how harmoniously this creation of human hands fits into the natural landscape, making up a single whole with it. The explanation of the phenomenon is simple: the Great Wall of China was laid not in the desert, but next to hills and mountains, spurs and deep gorges, smoothly bending around them. But why did the ancient Chinese need to build such a large and extended fortification? How did the construction go and how long did it last? These questions are asked by everyone who was lucky enough to visit here at least once. Answers to them have long been received by researchers, and we will dwell on the rich historical past of the Great Wall of China. She herself leaves an ambiguous impression on tourists, since some sections are in excellent condition, while others are completely abandoned. Only this circumstance in no way detracts from the interest in this object - rather, on the contrary.

The history of the construction of the Great Wall of China

In the III century BC, one of the rulers of the Celestial Empire was Emperor Qing Shi Huang. His era was during the Warring States period. It was a difficult and controversial time. The state was threatened from all sides by enemies, especially the aggressive Xiongnu nomads, and it needed protection from their treacherous raids. Thus was born the decision to build an impregnable wall - high and long, so that no one could disturb the peace of the Qin empire. At the same time, this building should have been, to put it modern language, demarcate the boundaries of the ancient Chinese kingdom and promote its further centralization. The wall was also intended to solve the issue of “the purity of the nation”: by fencing off the barbarians, the Chinese would be deprived of the opportunity to enter into marriage relations with them and have children together.

The idea of ​​building such a grandiose border fortification was not born out of the blue. There have already been precedents. Many kingdoms - for example, Wei, Yan, Zhao and the already mentioned Qin - tried to build something similar. The Wei state erected its wall around 353 BC. e .: adobe construction separated it from the kingdom of Qin. Later, this and other border fortifications were connected to each other, and they formed a single architectural ensemble.

The construction of the Great Wall of China started along the Yingshan, a mountain range in Inner Mongolia, in northern China. The emperor appointed commander Meng Tian to coordinate its course. The work ahead was large. Previously built walls had to be strengthened, connected with new sections and lengthened. As for the so-called "inner" walls, which served as borders between separate kingdoms, they were simply demolished.

The construction of the first sections of this grandiose object took a total of a decade, and the construction of the entire Great Wall of China stretched for two millennia (according to some evidence, even as much as 2,700 years). At its various stages, the number of people simultaneously involved in the work reached three hundred thousand. In general, the authorities attracted (more precisely, forced) about two million people to join them. These were representatives of many social strata: slaves, peasants, and military personnel. The workers worked in inhuman conditions. Some died from overwork as such, others became victims of severe and incurable infections.

To comfort, at least relative, did not have the area itself. The construction ran along the mountain ranges, skirting all the spurs extending from them. The builders moved forward, overcoming not only high rises, but also many gorges. Their sacrifices were not in vain - at least from the standpoint of today: it was this landscape of the area that determined the unique appearance of the miracle building. Not to mention its size: on average, the height of the wall reaches 7.5 meters, and this is without taking into account the rectangular battlements (with them all 9 meters are obtained). Its width is also not the same - at the bottom 6.5 m, at the top 5.5 m.

The Chinese in everyday life call their wall "earth dragon". And it is by no means accidental: at the very beginning, any materials were used in its construction, primarily rammed earth. It was done like this: first, shields were woven from reeds or rods, and clay, small pebbles and other improvised materials were pressed in layers between them. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang took over, they began to use more reliable stone slabs, which were laid right next to each other.

However, not only the variety of materials determined the heterogeneous appearance of the Great Wall of China. The towers also make it recognizable. Some of them were built before the wall itself appeared, and were built into it. Other elevations appeared simultaneously with the stone "border". It is not difficult to determine which were before and which were erected after: the first ones have a smaller width and are located at an unequal distance, while the second organically fit into the building and are exactly 200 meters apart from each other. They were usually erected rectangular, in two floors, equipping upper platforms with loopholes. Observation of enemy maneuvers, especially when they were advancing, was carried out from signal towers located here, on the wall.

When the Han Dynasty came to power, ruling from 206 BC to 220 AD, the Great Wall of China was expanded westward to Dunhuang. During this period, the object was equipped with a whole line of watchtowers that went deep into the desert. Their purpose is to protect caravans with goods, which often suffered from nomadic raids. To this day, mainly sections of the wall, erected in the era of the Ming dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644, have survived. They were built mainly from more reliable and durable materials- stone blocks and bricks. Over the three centuries of the reign of the named dynasty, the Great Wall of China "grew" significantly, stretching from the coast of the Bohai Bay (Shanhaiguan outpost) to the border of modern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Gansu Province (Yumenguan Outpost).

Where does the wall begin and end?

The man-made border of Ancient China originates in the north of the country, in the city of Shanghai-guan, located on the shores of the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea, which once had strategic importance on the borders of Manchuria and Mongolia. This is the easternmost point long wall in 10,000 li." The Laoluntou tower is also located here, it is also called the “dragon's head”. The tower is also notable for being the only place in the country where the Great Wall of China is washed by the sea, and it itself deepens into the bay by as much as 23 meters.

The westernmost point of the monumental structure is located in the vicinity of the city of Jiayuguan, in the central part of the Celestial Empire. Here is the Great Wall of China the best way. This site was built back in the 14th century, so it might not stand the test of time either. But it survived due to the fact that it was constantly strengthened and repaired. The westernmost outpost of the empire was built near Jiayuyoshan Mountain. The outpost was equipped with a moat and walls - internal and semicircular external. There are also main gates located on the western and eastern sides of the outpost. The Yuntai Tower stands proudly here, considered by many almost as a separate attraction. Inside, Buddhist texts and bas-reliefs of ancient Chinese kings are engraved on the walls, which arouse the constant interest of researchers.

Myths, legends, interesting facts

For a long time it was believed that the Great Wall of China could be seen from space. Moreover, this myth was born long before the flights to low Earth orbit, in 1893. Not even an assumption, but a statement was made by The Century magazine (USA). Then they returned to this idea in 1932. Robert Ripley, a well-known showman at the time, claimed that the structure could also be seen from the moon. With the advent of the era of spaceflight, these claims were largely refuted. According to NASA experts, the object is barely visible from the orbit, from which to the Earth's surface is about 160 km. The wall, and then with the help of strong binoculars, was able to see the American astronaut William Pogue.

Another myth takes us directly to the time of the construction of the Great Wall of China. An ancient legend says that a powder prepared from human bones was allegedly used as a cementing mortar that held the stones together. It was not necessary to go far for “raw materials” for him, given that many workers died here. Luckily, this is just a legend, albeit a creepy one. The ancient masters really prepared the adhesive solution from powder, only the basis of the substance was ordinary rice flour.

There is a legend that a great fiery Dragon paved the way for the workers. He also indicated in which areas the wall should be erected, and the builders steadily followed in his footsteps. Another legend tells of a farmer's wife named Men Jing Niu. Upon learning of the death of her husband at the construction site, she came there and began to cry inconsolably. As a result, one of the sites collapsed, and the widow saw the remains of her beloved under it, which she was able to take and bury.

It is known that the Chinese invented the wheelbarrow. But few people know that they were prompted by the construction of a grandiose facility that had begun: the workers needed convenient fixture, with which it would be possible to transport building materials. Some sections of the Great Wall of China, which were of exceptional strategic importance, were surrounded by protective ditches filled with water or left in the form of ditches.

Sections of the Great Wall of China

Several sections of the Great Wall of China are open for tourists to visit. Let's talk about some of them.

The closest outpost to Beijing, the modern capital of the PRC, is Badaling (it is also one of the most popular). It is located north of the Juyongguan pass and is only 60 km from the city. It was built in the era of the ninth Chinese emperor - Hongzhi, who ruled from 1487 to 1505. Along this section of the wall are signal platforms and watchtowers, which open great view if you climb to its highest point. In this place, the height of the object reaches an average of 7.8 meters. The width is sufficient for 10 pedestrians or 5 horses to pass.

Another outpost quite close to the capital is called Mutianyu and is located 75 km from it, in Huaizhou, the urban subordination area of ​​Beijing. This section was built during the reign of the Longqing (Zhu Zaihou) and Wanli (Zhu Yijun) emperors of the Ming Dynasty. At this point, the wall takes a sharp turn towards the northeastern regions of the country. The local landscape is mountainous, there are many steep slopes and cliffs. Zastava is notable for the fact that three branches of the “great stone border” converge at its southeastern tip, and at a 600-meter height.

One of the few sites where the Great Wall of China has been preserved almost in its original form is Simatai. It is located in Gubeikou Village, 100 km northeast of Miyun County, Beijing Municipality. This section stretches for 19 km. In its southeastern part, which still impresses with its impregnable view even today, there are partially preserved observation towers (14 in total).

The steppe section of the wall originates from the Jinchuan Gorge - this is east of the county town of Shandan, in the Zhangye district of Gansu province. In this place, the structure stretches for 30 km, and its height varies between 4-5 meters. In ancient times, the Great Wall of China was supported on both sides by a parapet that has survived to this day. The gorge itself deserves special attention. At a height of 5 meters, if you count from its bottom, you can see several carved hieroglyphs right on a rocky cliff. The inscription translates as "Jinchuan Citadel".

In the same province of Gansu, north of the Jiayuguan outpost, at a distance of only 8 km, there is a steep section of the Great Wall of China. It was built during the Ming period. He received this view due to the specifics of the local landscape. The bends of the mountainous terrain, which the builders had to take into account, “lead” the wall to a steep descent right into the crevice, where it goes straight. In 1988, the Chinese authorities restored this site and opened it to tourists a year later. From the watchtower you have a magnificent panorama of the surroundings on both sides of the wall.

The ruins of the Yangguan outpost are located 75 km southwest of the city of Dunhuang, which in ancient times served as a gateway to the Celestial Empire on the Great Silk Road. In the old days, the length of this section of the wall was approximately 70 km. Here you can see impressive heaps of stones and earthen ramparts. All this leaves no doubt: there were at least a dozen watch and signal towers here. However, they have not survived to our time, except for the signal tower north of the outpost, on Mount Dundun.

The section known as the Wei Wall originates in the town of Chaoyuandong (Shaanxi Province), located on the west coast of the Changjian River. Not far from here is the northern spur of one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism - Huashan, belonging to the Qinling Range. From here, the Great Wall of China moves towards the northern regions, as evidenced by its fragments in the villages of Chengnan and Hongyan, of which the former is best preserved.

Measures to save the wall

Time did not spare this unique architectural object, which many call the eighth wonder of the world. The rulers of the Chinese kingdoms did everything in their power to counteract the destruction. However, from 1644 to 1911 - the period of the Manchu Qing Dynasty - the Great Wall was practically abandoned and suffered even more destruction. Only the Badaling section was maintained in order, and that because it was located near Beijing and was considered the “front gate” to the capital. History, of course, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but if it were not for the betrayal of the commander Wu Sangui, who opened the gates of the Shanhaiguan outpost to the Manchus and let the enemy through, the Ming dynasty would not have fallen, and the attitude towards the wall would have remained the same - careful.

Deng Xiaoping, the founder of economic reforms in the PRC, paid great attention to the preservation historical heritage countries. It was he who initiated the restoration of the Great Wall of China, the program of which started in 1984. It was financed from a variety of sources, including funds from foreign business structures and donations from individuals. To raise money in the late 80s, an art auction was even held in the capital of the Celestial Empire, the course of which was widely covered not only in the country itself, but also by the leading television companies in Paris, London and New York. A lot of work was done with the proceeds, but the sections of the wall that are far from the tourist centers are still in a deplorable state.

On September 6, 1994, the thematic Museum of the Great Wall of China was inaugurated in Badaling. Behind the building, which resembles a wall in its appearance, is she herself. The institution is intended to popularize the great historical and cultural heritage this, without exaggeration, a unique architectural object.

Even the corridor in the museum is stylized under it - it is distinguished by its sinuousness, along its entire length there are “passages”, “signal towers”, “fortresses”, etc. The tour makes you feel as if you are traveling along the real Great Wall of China: so everything is well thought out and realistic.

Note to tourists

There are two funiculars on the Mutianyu section, the longest of the completely restored fragments of the wall, located 90 km north of the capital of China. The first is equipped with closed cabins and is designed for 4-6 people, the second is an open lift, similar to ski lifts. Those suffering from acrophobia (fear of heights) are better off not taking risks and prefer a walking tour, which, however, is also fraught with difficulties.

Climbing the Great Wall of China is easy enough, but the descent can turn into real torture. The fact is that the height of the steps is not the same and varies between 5-30 centimeters. You should go down them with the utmost care and it is advisable not to stop, because after a pause it is much harder to resume the descent. One tourist even calculated: climbing the wall at its lowest point involves overcoming 4,000 (!) steps.

Time to visit how to get to the Great Wall of China

Tours to the Mutianyu site from March 16 to November 15 are held from 7:00 to 18:00, in other months - from 7:30 to 17:00.

The Badaling site is available for visits from 6:00 to 19:00 at summer period and from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter.

You can get acquainted with the Symatai site in November-March from 8:00 to 17:00, in April-November - from 8:00 to 19:00.

A visit to the Great Wall of China is provided both as part of excursion groups and individually. In the first case, tourists are delivered by special buses, which usually depart from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Yabaolu and Qianmen streets, in the second, at the service of inquisitive travelers public transport or a private car with a driver hired for the day.

First option is suitable those who found themselves in the Celestial Empire for the first time and do not know the language. Or vice versa, who know the country and those who speak Chinese, but at the same time want to save money: group tours are relatively inexpensive. But there are also costs, namely the significant duration of such tours and the need to focus on other members of the group.

Public transport to get to the Great Wall of China is usually used by those who know Beijing well and at least speak and read Chinese. A trip by regular bus or train will cost less than even the most attractive group tour. There is also a time saving: an independent tour will allow you not to be distracted, for example, by visiting numerous souvenir shops, where guides love to take tourists so much in the hope of earning their commission on sales.

Renting a driver with a car for the whole day is the most comfortable and flexible way to get to the section of the Great Wall of China that you choose for yourself. The pleasure is not cheap, but it is worth it. Wealthy tourists often book a car through a hotel. You can catch it just on the street, like an ordinary taxi: this is how many metropolitan residents earn money, readily offering their services to foreigners. Just do not forget to take a phone number from the driver or take a picture of the car itself, so that you don’t have to look for it for a long time if the person leaves or drives off somewhere before you return from the tour.

The Great Wall of China (220 BC - 1368 - 1644 AD) is a symbol of China, one of the most beautiful and grandiose structures of all times and peoples. This is the largest creation of human hands in world history and is the only structure of such a huge scale in the whole world. The Wall of China is the only man-made structure in the world that can be seen from space with the naked eye.

The history of the Chinese wall began in the 3rd century BC, during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi - the Qin Dynasty (475-221 BC). The wall began to be erected during the Warring States period. At that time, the Celestial Empire was in great need of protection from the attacks of enemies, including the nomadic people - the Xiongnu. A fifth of the Chinese population was involved in the construction of the wall, at that time it was about a million people. The Chinese landmark was to become a planned Chinese habitat, the extreme northern point of the country, and protect the subjects of the Chinese Empire from assimilation with the barbarians. Inhabitants East Asia they planned to accurately mark the boundaries of their civilization, since the Chinese state had just begun to form from many conquered states, to contribute to the unification of the Chinese empire into one whole.

The eighth wonder of the world - the Chinese wall - "Wan li chang cheng" - the longest in the world. The length of the wall is even - 8,852 kilometers. The height of the Chinese wall is about 7 m, but in some sections its height reaches 10 meters, the width of the wall at the base from the ground is about 6.5 m, and its upper part is about 5.5 m. two horse-drawn carts could pass easily. Fortresses were built near the main mountain passes, and along the entire length of the Chinese wall, watchtowers were built to protect casemates. And from the highest points of the wall, you can admire a breathtaking panorama.

The wall was built skillfully and with such a margin of safety that it has survived to this day. The Great Wall stretches across all modern China, along cities, through deep gorges, deserts, valleys. When the wall was completed, the country, located to the south, turned into a well-defended, huge fortress. But neither the wall nor the cruel ruler could help the Qin dynasty. After the death of the first emperor of China, a few years later the Qin dynasty was overthrown.

And took over the board new dynasty- The Han Empire, which was formed at the end of the III century BC. e. and ruled over China for over four hundred years. At that time, the Chinese people realized themselves as a single whole, today some Chinese call themselves “Han”. The Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) extended the wall to the west as far as Dunhuang. Also, to protect against the attack of nomads - trade caravans, they built a line of watchtowers that went into the desert. The sections of the wall that have survived to this day were mainly built during the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

The Great Wall is not only a symbol of a united China, but is also the longest cemetery in the world, a wall of tears and suffering. This is because about a million people were rounded up to build the wall. It was built mainly by forced peasants, convicts, slaves, and soldiers - almost the entire population of the country worked. During the construction of the current eighth wonder of the world, there is no count of the Chinese who died there, because it was built for about fifteen centuries. The bodies of all the dead were walled up in the foundation of the wall. In order for their souls to also protect the borders of China from the attacks of enemies, and from the demons of the northern peoples. According to legend, the construction of such a large-scale fortification caused fury among the spirits.

The Great Wall of China today attracts tourists from all over the world, every day. All the legends historical facts and even fairy tales cannot do without the mention of the wall. The Chinese people claim that the history of this wall is half of the history of China and it is impossible to understand China without visiting the wall. According to the miscalculations of scientists: if all the materials used to build the Chinese Wall during the Ming Dynasty are folded into a single wall, 1 meter thick and 5 meters high, then it will be enough to tie Earth, And if you use all the materials used by the Qin, Han and Ming dynasties, then such a wall could wrap the earth more than ten times.

Today, millions of tourists from all over the world visit this monument of world architecture to enjoy and admire the grandeur of the building, as well as its scale.

The Great Wall of China is a grandiose structure in the entire history of mankind, which performs a defensive function. The reasons for the creation of such a large-scale building were formed long before the start of a long construction. Many principalities of the north and the kingdoms of China in general built protective walls from the raids of enmity and simple nomads. When all the kingdoms and principalities united (3rd century BC), an emperor named Qin Shi Huang began the centuries-old and difficult construction of the Chinese Wall with all the forces of China.

shanhai guan is the city where the Great Wall of China begins. It is from there that it stretches in wavy bends, skirting more than half of the borders of Central China. The width of the wall is on average 6 meters, and the height is about 10. At some point in time, the wall was even used as a good level road. On some sections of the wall there are fortresses and fortifications as additions.

2450 meters - this is the length of the Chinese wall, although the total length, taking into account all the branches, bends and meanders, is almost 5000 km. From such large and infinite dimensions, many legends, myths and fairy tales have long been formed, for example, one of the most common is that the wall can be seen from the Moon and Mars. In fact, the Wall of China is only visible from orbit and satellite imagery.

According to a popular legend, a huge imperial army was spent on the construction of the wall, and this is about 300,000 people. In addition, tens of thousands of peasants were accepted and involved in construction, as the number of builders decreased for various reasons, and it was necessary to compensate for this with new people. Fortunately, there are no problems with the "human resource" in China to this day.

The geographical location of the wall is very interesting in itself: it is a symbol that divides the country into two parts - the north belongs to the nomads, and the south belongs to the landowners.

Another interesting and tragic fact is the longest and largest cemetery in the world in terms of the number of burials. About how many people were buried during the construction, and for all the time in general, history is silent. But the number is certainly incredibly large. The remains of the dead are found even today.

During the entire existence of the wall, it was restored more than once: it was reconstructed from the 14th to the 16th century, and then from the 16th to the 17th. one tower to another).

As a means of defense, the wall proved to be very bad, because such a height is not a hindrance for a large enemy. Therefore, for the most part, the guards did not look at the north side, but at the south. The reason is that it was necessary to keep an eye on the peasants who wanted to leave the country, avoiding taxes.

Today, in the 21st century, the Great Wall of China is an officially recognized symbol of its country, known throughout the world. Many of its sections have been reconstructed for tourism purposes. One part of the wall passes directly next to Beijing, which is a winning option, because it is in the capital that the largest number of tourists arrive.