Fun Fact File: The Great Wall of China

“He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man.” – Mao Zedong

Famously conceived by the Emperor Qin Shi Huang (c. 259-210 B.C.) The Great Wall of China was created as way to protect the Silk Road Trade route and the country from barbaric neighbours, particularly the Huns. Woven together like a rustic basket the wall was several individual walls that were brought together and it actually took several dynasties to complete the wall we know now.

The wall winds its way along East to West China and is approximately 21,196.18kms (13,170.7miles) and over 2,300 years old. It is one of the most astounding architectural sights in the world and we implore you to visit whenever you can. To get you as excited about The Great Wall of China as we are, we’ve assembled some astounding facts for you:

Facts About the Great Wall of China

• The mortar used to bind the stones was made out of rice flour, the same ingredient that it is in a lot of food such as rotis
• The Great Wall of China is one of the 7 Wonders of the Medieval World, and is the longest structure to ever be built by humans
• The tallest section is 8-metres high and the widest section is 9-metres wide (you could easily fit a car along this)
• Most of the wall we walk and see today was built during the Ming Dynasty
• The wall was not built by skilled builders but rather royal guards, peasants, fallen nobles, the unemployed and convicts as a form of punishment

• Over 1million people died whilst building The Great Wall of China; architects and experts have found several human remains buried under the wall
• The Great Wall of China is disintegrating! Owing to nature and human interference parts of the wall are crumbling away… so go and see it ASAP!
• Over 10 million people visit the Great Wall of China every year!
• The most famous section of the wall is called Badaling, and has been visited by over 300 heads of state and VIPs from around the world. The first world leader was Soviet leader President Voroshilov of the once USSR (don’t visit this section if you want a more rural experience!)
• We don’t mean to burst your bubble, but the story about being able to see The Great Wall of China from space is sadly untrue

We recommend seeing this sight for yourself, perhaps even make it a challenge to yourself to walk the whole thing. There are so many tour companies offering great deals to visit and trek certain parts of the wall, as well as combining them with excursions to the other attractions like the Ming Tombs.

Have a look at the flights available to you, and let us know any new facts you find out and we’ll add them to our list!

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