The Great Wall of China: 10 Interesting Things You Might Not Know

The Great Wall of China, known in every corner of the universe, is one of the seven wonders of the world. Its construction dates back over 2,000 years ago, around 700 BC, and was commissioned by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty.

It seems that during the period when China was divided into many small states, many of these kingdoms already had defensive walls built to protect their borders. Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi greatly unified all the kingdoms (and consequently the walls) by strengthening the existing defenses.

During the Han dynasty (from 206 to 220 BC), the Qin Wall was restored and extended. During this period, China had developed a flourishing trade activity, and the Wall traced the route of the Silk Road. However, it was during the Ming dynasty, 13 centuries later, that the Great Wall was expanded and enriched with towers and cannons, reaching nearly 6,400 kilometers in length.

The Great Wall today stands among the mountains north of China and encloses all the territory northwest of Beijing. It is built from masonry, rocks, and rammed earth. The width varies depending on the sections, ranging from 4.5 meters to 9 meters, while its height reaches about 7 to 8 meters in different areas.

It represents one of the largest constructions ever built and, precisely because of its size and uniqueness, the Wall has always been the subject of legends and curiosity.

1. There has never been an actual general construction plan for the Great Wall; it was built on the fly over the centuries.

2. From the beginning, during the Qin dynasty, glutinous rice flour was used to bind the bricks that make up the wall.

3. Due to its narrow width, the Wall is not visible to the naked eye from space, as many astronauts have confirmed to NATO headquarters. It seems it is impossible to identify it even at an altitude of a hundred kilometers unless a telescope is used.

4. Every year, the Great Wall is visited by over 10 million tourists. It is one of the most visited works in the world, offering stunning and unique views.

5. The workers who built the Wall-several million people-were mostly slaves, soldiers, farmers, prisoners, and rebels.

6. The first banknote featuring the image of the Great Wall dates back to 1914. At that time, it was worth 2 jiao (20 cents of Yuan), but today it is invaluable for collectors.

7. In Hebei province, there is a section of the Great Wall submerged underwater, called "Xifengkou."

8. In China, it is referred to as Wan-Li Qang-Qeng, which literally means "10,000 Li long wall" (equivalent to almost 5,000 kilometers).

9. Today, the total length of the Wall is 8,851 kilometers. However, it is believed that many sections have been destroyed over the centuries, and its total length may have reached 21,196 kilometers (over half the circumference of the equator, which is 40,075 kilometers).

10. The Great Wall of China is referred to as the longest cemetery on Earth, as over a million people who worked on it died during its construction. Supporting this claim are the discoveries of many human remains buried at the edges of the wall, found by archaeologists during various excavations in different historical periods.

Author: Paola Toia