The Great Wall of China: What makes this monument so impressive?

The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous monuments of mankind and certainly one of the most admirable symbols of that country. No wonder it is considered one of the most important works erected by human hands, as it has more than 2, 000 years of existence and is so large that the full extent is unknown. The building certainly has numerous interesting facts surrounding its history.

Many people believe, for example, that the Wall of China is just a large wall erected to isolate the country, but in fact it consists of thousands of walls and parallel buildings that span the entire Chinese territory. The structures were built over different periods of Chinese history in more than 20 centuries, and while her initial conception was really to prevent the country from possible invasions, it never effectively avoided this kind of situation. Its existence represented much more of a psychological barrier between the Chinese and the rest of the world.

To this day it remains one of the most representative landmarks of its country, in some places showing excellent condition and, in others, with significant traces of deterioration by negligence. But what makes the Great Wall an even more impressive monument than it looks? To know this, let's look at some historical and current details about the “Great Chinese Wall”.

The current importance

The building has a representation to the western world as a symbol of the strength and resistance of the Chinese people, which began at some point between the 18th and 20th centuries. After all, the Wall of China is the longest defensive fortification in the world.

Moreover, in the current view, the monument is recognized as one of the most impressive architectural achievements in history. Since 1987, it is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Historical context of the building

The building of this Chinese symbol began in the 8th century BC, when the country was divided into seven kingdoms that remained at war. At that time, the leaders of each region ordered the construction of walls to defend their areas, giving rise to the first walls erected as a wall. The separation of Chinese territory ended in the 3rd century BC, when the Qin people defeated their rivals and took over the entire country, making China an empire.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang then ordered the construction of a wall on the northern border of the country to defend the nation against enemy countries. This wall was composed of lighthouses and observation towers that housed the troops. In these places, the base was made about 12 meters wide and about 10 meters high. These facilities were erected at certain intervals, connected by large walls and walkways that form the Great Wall of China. Passages and gates of entry and exit were strategically placed at various points of the monument.

General information

Taking into account all the walls that give rise to the Great Wall of China, the construction time exceeds 10, 000 years. Originally, the length was almost 5, 000 kilometers, but over time new stretches were erected, increasing the length to over 8, 000 kilometers. In 2009, a new technology identified nearly 300 new kilometers of built walls. All the discoveries and changes in the course of history make the full extent of the wall unknown today.

It is estimated that over 1 million workers participated in the work. It is also believed that of these people, between 300 and 400 thousand died during the whole period of construction of the monument. Many of these dead were buried under the very walls of the great wall.

At various times the walls have been tested and proved inefficient for their real purpose. In 1211, for example, the Mongol leader Genghis Khan managed to cross the barrier, invading and conquering China. The possession of the Mongols lasted until 1368, when the Chinese regained power and drove the enemy nation from their lands, establishing the Ming Dynasty. After that, they erected new walls with more durable and resistant materials and used more qualified people for construction.

Although not a perfect defense mechanism, the wall played an essential role in other situations, such as military communication at the time of the Qin Empire conflicts. Smoke, lights, and fire signals from headlights and towers were used to pass messages to other troops.

Curiosities

The Wall of China is not visible from space with the naked eye, as many still believe. The rumor was created in the 20th century by two orbiting astronauts who were equipped with optical equipment and, by mentioning the monument, suggested that observation was possible without them. At some point, another, even more unreasonable rumor arose, that it was possible to watch her from the moon.

All this has already been denied. The building is too narrow to be seen with the naked eye, even in the lowest atmosphere on Earth. What happens then is that it can be identified at this time in satellite imagery, which also allows the visualization of other monuments erected by men, such as large cities and the Pyramids of Egypt.

Several streets and roads cross the wall at various points along its length, which were knocked down for the passageway. The best stretch is now known as Badaling and is 70 km northwest of Beijing. This area was rebuilt in the late 1950s and attracts thousands of Chinese and foreign tourists every day.

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