The Great Wall,an Amazing Place
2 min read
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China,built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups.Several walls had been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall,which had been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century.One ol:he most famous is the wall built between 220-206 BC by the hrst Emperor of China,Oin Shi Huang.Little of that wall remains,and the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.
The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east,to Lop Nur in the west,along cn arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia.The most comprehensive Mcnaeological survey,using advanced technologies,has concluded that the entire Great Wall. with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km.This is made up of 6,259.6 km sections of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.
In 2009,an additional 290 km(180 mi)of previously undetected portions of the wall. built during the Ming Dyasty,was discovered.The newly discovered sections range from the Hushan mountains in the northern Liaoning province,to Jiayuguan in western Ciansu province. The sections had been submerged over time by sandstorms which moved across the arid region.
Under Qing rule,China’s borders extended beyond the walls and Mongolia was annexed into the empire,so construction and repairs on the Great Wall were discontinued.
