Great Wall of China

views updated May 14 2018

Great Wall of China Defensive frontier and world heritage site, c.2400km (1500mi) long, extending from the Huang Hai (Yellow Sea) to the Central Asian Desert, n China. It is an amalgamation of fortifications constructed by various dynasties. The Warring States built the first sections of the wall. In 214 bc, Qin Shihuangdi ordered that they should be joined to form a unified boundary. The present wall was mostly built 600 years ago by the Ming dynasty. It averages 7.6m (25ft) high, and is up to 9m (30ft) thick.