Built by millions of workers and witnessed hundreds of battles, the Great Wall is still there, standing to this day and worthy of being one of the greatest wonders of the world.
Although, attracting a lot of tourists to visit each year, but until now, the origin and real reason of birth of the Great Wall of China are still in doubt. By going back in history, studying structures and searching for evidence and records, scientists have been trying to solve the mysteries surrounding this magnificent work.
In the article below, let’s review the things that not everyone knows about the Great Wall of China – One of the Top 10 Greatest Man-Made Wonders of the World with Top10theworld.com.
Building the Great Wall is punishment for criminals
During the Qin Dynasty, the construction, maintenance, and supervision of activities at the Great Wall was the regular punishment of convicts. At that time, there were no machines, so the entire construction had to use human power.
For crimes such as tax evasion, which can be punished by building walls and building materials, it is extremely arduous and dangerous. Along with the prisoners committed against me, the Great Wall was also built by soldiers and civilians.
The Great Wall is gradually “disappearing”
Compared with many works in the world, the scale of the Great Wall of China is extremely impressive. However, the fortification of this structure is facing many threats. According to Travel China Guide, the Great Wall is “disappearing over the years”. UNESCO statistics show that almost a third of this work has disappeared. The main cause is believed to be due to the effects of nature, weather as well as anthropogenic erosion. However, there are still parts of this building that are well preserved and maintained.
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The Great Wall of China was built over thousands of years
The Great Wall was not built in one go, but took many years to get the structure we see today. This fortified city wall was built over many dynasties of feudal China over more than 22 centuries. The remains to this day are mainly built during the Ming Dynasty. This dynasty built and repaired this magnificent structure for more than 200 years.
The Great Wall of China is more than 2,300 years old
Built in the 2nd century BC under the reign of Qin Shi Huang, by far this most magnificent structure in China is more than 2,300 years old.
The number of visitors can be up to 30,000 people per day
Before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, popular areas on the Great Wall could welcome up to 30,000 visitors a day and more than 10 million visitors a year.
Badaling is home to the most visited stretch of the Great Wall, located 50 miles northwest of Beijing’s urban center. This place belongs to the boundary of Yanqing district, Beijing.
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The Great Wall is a discontinuous structure
This may come as a surprise to many, but as the Travel China Guide explains: “The Great Wall is a defensive network consisting of many walls and fortresses built in different historical periods, with some segments scattered while others run parallel. In some places this wall can be twice or even three times higher than in other areas.”
Ancient poems predicting the construction of the Great Wall
In the Book of Poems, a collection of ancient poems written from the 11th to the 7th centuries BC, predicts that the greatest structure in the world will be built in this country. The poems in the Book of Poems refer to China’s need to defend against invaders with a retaining wall structure. This is also the oldest poetry collection found in this country of billions of people.
There are still traces of artillery shells
Looking at the long history of the Great Wall of China, it is not difficult to realize that this work is still imprinted with traces of the past. The section of the Great Wall through Gubeikou is located in Miyun District, about 140 km from Beijing, where visitors can see firsthand the walls riddled with shells. This is the site of fierce battles between the Chinese and Japanese armies in the 1930s.
The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built by man
The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built by man. In fact, according to the Daily Mail, the total length of the Great Wall of China in China, built in different dynasties is 21,196.18 km.
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Sticky rice is used to make mortar
Most of the Great Wall of China is made from unremarkable building materials such as stone. However, glutinous rice is incorporated into mortar recipes thanks to its superior adhesion. Many studies show that the compound amylopectin (the compound that creates adhesion) in glutinous rice helps the wall to be stronger and more durable.
The Great Wall of China cannot be seen from space
There are mixed opinions about whether the Great Wall can be seen from space. Since humans have reached outer space, this view has been rejected. Astronaut Neil Armstrong is among those who claim it.
The Great Wall honors legendary figures
Along the Great Wall are temples and tributes to famous figures in Chinese history. Guan Yu, a general serving in the Han dynasty, who lived in the 3rd century, is honored with a temple built here. In addition, many other points on the Great Wall are used to pay respects to the Heavenly King (the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism).
Wall defense is not good
Despite efforts to build the Great Wall of China as a military defense system, historically many of the country’s enemies have been overcome. In the 17th century, the invasion of Manchuria also led to the downfall of the Ming dynasty.
Brick from the Great Wall is used to build houses
The impacts on this magnificent building do not always come from hostile external forces. During the Proletarian Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, kilometers of the Great Wall were destroyed because bricks were removed to be reused for the construction of residential houses, farms and reservoirs. This has caused many sections of the Great Wall to be destroyed or seriously degraded afterwards.
Many people try to conquer the Great Wall on foot
A British tourist, author of a book called “Alone on the Great Wall” walked 2,470 km along the route of this structure built during the Ming Dynasty. Meanwhile, another man, Ooi Thean Hin, spent eight years walking through sections of this magnificent structure. The trip started in September 2009 and ended in October 2016.
Above are interesting things you may not know about the Great Wall of China that Top10theworld.com has compiled. Hope these knowledge will be useful to you. Don’t forget to follow Top10theworld.com’s channels!