How Long Did It Take To Build The Great Wall Of China (And Why)?

How Long Did It Take To Build The Great Wall Of China (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 20 Years

Ever felt like traveling somewhere for an adventure. Then do not miss out on traveling to the Great Wall of China. Till the present, China has made many awful operations to harm other countries. Meanwhile, it also has some treasures to offer like the incredible Great Wall of China.

Often included in the lists of Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China is one of the famous monuments in the world. The wall weaving through China’s countryside carries many stories and oddities that are barely known. 

The Great Wall of China became the UNESCO World Heritage site in December  1987. 

How Long Did It Take To Build The Great Wall Of China

How Long Did It Take To Build The Great Wall of China?

ProcessPeriod
Construction of the Great Wall of China20 years
Whole plan (including finishing)More than 22 years

There are several famous monuments situated in different parts of the world. They were built by great personalities in the past. There exist some stories and reasons behind the construction of these famous monuments.

The Great Wall of China is in northern China and the Central Plains. The exact location of the wall is at Mutianyu, northeast of Beijing. It extends about 7300 kilometers from the Shanhai Pass on the east coast to the Jiayu Pass in modern Gansu province.

The original Great Wall of China was built around 2000 years ago, in 221 BC under the rule of Emperor Qin. The most extensive and best-preserved Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (between 1368 and 1644). The Great Wall had been built over many years by the successive dynasties. 

The original wall is believed to have been built over approximately 20 years. The wall that is mainly in evidence today, was built during the Ming dynasty, over around 2000 years.

To construct this great wall, thousands of people were involved. 

The wall was constructed by the laborers consisting of soldiers, criminals, and the people. By analyzing the records, around 300,000 soldiers and 500,000 common people were involved in constructing the original Great Wall under Emperor Qin.

Many people sacrificed their lives during the construction work, and archaeologists have discovered many human remains buried under the sections of the wall. 

A popular and well-known story of the Great Wall of China is “Meng Jiangnu’s Bitter Weeping”, which tells of a woman whose husband got killed in the construction of the wall. Her tears were so bitter that a section of the wall collapsed to reveal her husband’s body so she could make a funeral and later killed herself in desperation.

Why Did It Take That Long To Build The Great Wall Of China?

China has several beautiful monuments but, the Great Wall is the most beautiful one. It was successfully constructed with the help of hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of the people. It is believed that over 1 million soldiers were safeguarding the great wall against the neighbors during the  Ming dynasty.

Talking about the wall, it is not a continuous line. It contains spurs going in different directions and pauses where mountains or lakes offer protection. There was also a popular myth that the great wall can be seen from space with the help of a high-tech lens.

The purpose of the construction of the Great Wall is to protect China from barbarian invasion or attacks by the northern tribes such as the Mongols. The Wall included a series of watchtowers and forts that would house the soldiers, grains, and weapons.

The wall was built from different materials over centuries. The earlier wall during the Qin dynasty was made of compacted earth, surrounded by local stone. 

There was much use of local materials to lower the costs and enable the building to continue quickly. The last Ming wall was built largely of bricks.

Conclusion

The Great Wall, situated in China, is one of the most beautiful places and is mesmerizing to the eyes during spring and autumn fall. To avoid the heat, crowds, and freezing conditions, people don’t travel in the summer and winter seasons.

The flowers and plants in Beijing’s mountains make the Walls look more beautiful. Today many tourists visit the Great Wall and walk along it to enjoy its beauty. It is due to the hard work and sacrifices of the people in the construction of the wall which paid off.

References

  1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/209853
  2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40543351
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Here at the EHL, it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. So come and join me at the beach, relax and enjoy the food.

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