The Great Wall of China stands as history’s most iconic human-made fortification. Stretching tens of thousands of miles across diverse landscapes, it continues to captivate global visitors—American tourists included. Here are 10 essential facts, drawn from respected English sources as of June 14, 2025.
- It’s actually a series of walls built over centuries.
Connected during Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign (~220 BC), the Wall’s earliest sections date back to the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Later dynasties added and maintained sections, with the most famous built by the Ming (1368–1644).
2. Total length is about 21,196 km (13,171 mi).
That includes original, rebuilt, and overlapping segments. Of that, roughly 8,850 km (5,499 mi) belong to the well-preserved Ming-era sections.
3. Average height is 6–7 m (20–23 ft); some points reach 14 m (46 ft).
With a typical width of around 6.5 m (21 ft), some heights hit 14 m at peak sections.
4. Built using surprising materials—including sticky rice mortar.
Earth, stone, bricks, wood, and an ancient mortar mix of lime and glutinous rice made structures durable and water-resistant.
5. More than 1 million people died during construction.
Labor included soldiers, convicts, and local peasants. Qin-era efforts alone cost an estimated 400,000 lives, leading to its grim nickname: “the longest cemetery on Earth”.
6. It isn’t a single unbroken wall.
It’s made of multiple walls, side walls, and natural barriers like mountains and rivers. One-third of the structure has disappeared over time.
7. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
The Great Wall of China was formally added to the UNESCO list in 1987—joining the ranks of globally recognized cultural landmarks.
8. Not visible from space with the unaided eye.
The myth that it’s visible from the moon persists, but astronauts confirm it can barely be seen from low-Earth orbit, and only under ideal conditions.
9. It has over 25,000 watchtowers and more than 5,500 km of Ming-era wall visible today.
These towers aided defense through signals and troop movement; today, over 5,500 km of restored wall can be walked.
10. Draws over 10 million visits annually; the Badaling section alone sees ~16 million.
With pushback against overtourism, officials cap daily visitors (e.g., 65,000 at Badaling). Nearly 20 million tourists visit the Wall each year.
