26Aug Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China (Simplified Chinese:万里长城) is a series of stone and earth fortifications in China, built, rebuilt and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern border of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, known as the Great Wall of China, have been built since the 5th century BC, the most famous being built between 220 BC and 200 BC by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. This wall is much farther north than the current wall, built during the Ming Dynasty, and little of it remains.

The Great Wall of China is the world’s longest human-structure, which covers about 6400 km (4000 miles) from Shanhai Pass to the east of Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that defines a roughly the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. It is also the largest human structure ever built in terms of area and mass.

Although some parts of north Beijing and close to tourist centres have been preserved and even reconstructed, in many places the wall is in poor condition. The parties could serve as a playground a village or a source of stones to rebuild houses and roads. The sections of wall are also prone to graffiti and vandalism. Parties were destroyed because the wall is being built. No investigation of the wall has been completed, it is not possible to say how it survives, especially in remote areas. Intact or repair portions of the wall near developed tourist areas are often frequented by sellers of tourist kitsch.

The wall has also watchtowers at regular intervals, which were used to store weapons, troops home, and send smoke signals. Barracks and administrative centres are located in large intervals.

The communication between army units along the Great Wall, including the ability to call in reinforcements and warn garrisons movements of the enemy, is of great importance. Signal towers were built on hill tops or other points along the wall to their visibility.