The Great Wall of China is known throughout the world as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Since 1987 was declared a World Heritage Site, it is also one of the main attractions of this Asian country. However, despite being one of the most famous monuments in the world, there are some facts that very few people know about it. Come with us to discover them and learn a little more about this incredible structure with more than 2000 years old.
1. First and last construction (7th century B.C. – 1878)
Although it is said that The Great Wall of China was built by first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang in (259-210 BC), this is not true. However, it is important to mention that that he united the northern walls of the states he conquered; the construction began 2,700 years ago, beginning in the time of Chunqiu (770-476 BC) during the spring and fall period.
In fact, it has been demonstrated that the oldest wall, constitute fortifications built by the state of Chu during the 7th century B.C, while the last construction was in 1878 at the end of the Qing dynasty, until, in 1957, after being restored by the government of the Popular Republic of China. The section of Badaling, was opened to the public as a tourist attraction.
2. The Great Wall of China is not a continuous line
Although it can be assumed that it is a single continuous wall. But, the reality is that it is a collection of walls, consisting of side walls, circular walls, parallel walls and many individual sections. These were built in different periods of history. Moreover, there are even places where the wall doubles or triples.
3. Completion of such a massive project originated by a rumor
As we had already mentioned, it was the Emperor Qin Shi Huang who ordered the union of the pre-existing sections. However, what is surprising is that the decision to do so was made because of a rumor. After unifying central China and establishing the Qin dynasty in 221 BC, he wanted to consolidate power and rule China forever.
Therefore, he would entrust necromancer named Lu Sheng with the impossible mission of finding a way to achieve immortality, But after countless attempts and years of unsuccessful search. Finally, Lu Sheng to divert the attention of the emperor spread the rumor that the nomads of the north would try to annihilate him. This caused the Emperor to become so frightened that he immediately issued a decree to connect the walls and extend new ones to protect the northern border.
4. The Great Wall we see today is not so old
From the construction of its first foundations in the 7th century B.C. until the 19th century A.D., more than 20 dynasties and states have promoted the systematic construction of The Great Wall of China.
It is important to mention that the best known and best preserved walls were built during the Ming dynasty. In addition, the construction began around 1381 and involved a 5,500-mile (8,851.8 km) journey from Hushan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west. However, many sections have been renovated and transformed into resorts, including Badaling and Mutianyu in Beijing, Shanhaiguan in Hebei and Jiayuguan in Gansu. These sections that are most popular with tourists around the world are usually only 400 to 600 years old.
5. The Famous Badaling vs. the Unnamed Walls
Badaling is the most visited and also the most famous section of The Great Wall of China. It is located 40 miles (70 km) northwest of Beijing and is also the best preserved and the oldest open to tourists. It is also subject to an unprecedented urban development, which includes restaurants, hotels, a cable car and a recently built highway that connects to the center of Beijing. However, outside of it, there are many sections of the ancient walls that lie still unnamed.
6. Is it just a wall?
We usually refer to it as a “Wall,” but the reality is that it was much more than that. This has become evident, thanks to historical facts that show it was a comprehensive defense system, with superimposed walls and trenches to block the enemies, watchtowers and beacons for signals and communication. As well as fortresses for frontal battles and barracks to house soldiers.
In fact, several buildings designed and built during the period of the Ming Dynasty. Among these are the Inner Three Steps of Daoma, Zijing and Juyong, and the Outer Three Steps of Pianguan, Ningwu and Yanmen. They constituted a strong defense against the incursions of the neighboring countries into the capital city of Beijing.
7. It could not prevent all invasions
Even though The Great Wall of China acted for thousands of years as a physical barrier between the central Chinese Empire and the northern nomads, it was not always able to contain the invasions, since several tribes partially or totally invaded the Chinese empire in centuries before the Ming dynasty.
An example of this was the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan. Who, in the 13th century, and after centuries of trying, finally managed to flank and overcome the barriers, controlling the north and center of China for almost a century. Although in 1644, the Manchus took advantage of an internal revolt and managed to pass the eastern end of The Great Wall of China. This led to the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the birth of the Qing Dynasty.
8. Can the Great Wall of China be seen from space?
In view of the immense scale of the Wall, in the early 19th century, a rumor was generated that this was the only human construction visible from the Moon or space. However, NASA denied this through a publication on its website, saying that it is not visible from space, at least to the human eye, without help from low Earth orbit. Since the material it is made of is almost the same color and texture as its surroundings.
9. A third of the Great Wall of China has disappeared
Many visitors to China associate the restored section in Badaling with the rest of The Great Wall of China. Nevetheless, the truth is that most of the structure is in a poor state of conservation. In fact, many sites have deteriorated due to natural erosion, lack of maintenance and human activity (vandalism being the main threat).
According to UNESCO statistics and data disseminated by The Great Wall of China Society, almost a third of the walls have already disappeared. In addition, the first walls made of rammed earth, particularly those in Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Ningxia in northwest China, are suffering great deterioration. It has been estimated that if these sections are not effectively preserved, they could disappear completely within 30 years.
10. Unfortunately, the Wall is called the longest cemetery on Earth
Despite the fact that there are no officially recorded figures, throughout its 2,500 years historians estimate that more than 1,000,000 people worked in its construction, among them: civilians, soldiers and convicts, as it was a special punishment for convicted criminals during the Qin (221 – 207 BC) and Han (202 BC – 220 AD) dynasties.
However, it is also estimated that the hard work of its construction cost 400,000 lives. It is even said that they would have used the bones of some as foundations, but so far there is no evidence of this.
11. Some figures of the Great Wall of China
- The official length is 21,196.18 km (13,170.70 miles), which is equal to half the length of the Equator.
- The main wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and measures 8,851.8 km (5,500 miles).
- It covers 15 regions in northern China: Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and Xinjiang.
- The average height of the walls is 6 to 7 meters (20 to 23 feet) and the tallest wall is 14 meters (46 feet).
- Badaling is the most visited section with an average of 8 to 10 million visitors per year. Although in 2001 it received 63,000,000 visitors.
ALFA