20 Interesting Facts about the Great Wall of China

Written by Catherine | Updated September 17,2025

The Great Wall of China stands as a remarkable ancient architectural marvel from the world. The history of the Great Wall can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty and extended to the Qing Dynasty. For nearly 3,000 years, almost all dynasties had built the Great Wall.

Stretching across China’s northern border for thousands of miles, the Great Wall of China still exists today, as do the ancient ruins of its watchtowers. And, there are something a bit more modern added to the Wall, such as the cable cars, dedicated to making the Great Wall tours easier and more accessible.

Read on, explore 20 important and interesting facts about the Great Wall, shedding light on its history, construction, cultural importance, and unique features that you may never heard before.

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• • 1. The Construction of the Great Wall
  • 2. Where is the Great Wall?
  • 3. Who Built the Great Wall of China?
  • 4. The Great Wall Length and Dimensions
  • 5. The Great Wall is Not Continuous
  • 6. The 13 Famous Passes of the Great Wall
  • 7. What Was the Great Wall Made of?
  • 8. Can You See the Great Wall from Space?
  • 9. Is the Great Wall of China Filled with Dead Bodies?
  • 10. Historical and Cultural Significance
  • 10 More Cool Facts about the Great Wall of China
  • Current efforts to preserve the Great Wall
  • Essential items to pack for a Great Wall hike
  • FAQs about Great Walls
  • Plan Your Memorable Great Wall Tour with China Xian Tour

1. The Construction of the Great Wall

China Great Wall’s construction commenced more than two millennia ago, during the West Zhou Dynasty (1064-771 BC). It was initially built as a defensive structure to protect China from invasions.

The Great Wall stretches from the desert in the west to the sea in the east. At its narrowest point, it is only about 40 cm, allowing only one person to walk on it, while at its widest point it reaches about 15 metres, allowing a pickup truck to pass through it.

In different places, the Great Wall has different specifications. It can stand on top of a mountain, on a cliff, or on a plain. The fact that it can be built according to the terrain and is not constrained by the landscape is one of the peculiarities of the Great Wall.

Read more:

• Why was the Great Wall of China Built
• How was the Great Wall of China Built
• When Was the Great Wall of China Built?

2. Where is the Great Wall?

The Great Wall is located in the north of China, stretching from Shanhaiguan in Bohai Bay of Hebei Province in the east to Jiayuguan in Gansu Province in the west. The Great Wall of China is situated in the north and stretches from Jiayuguan in Gansu Province to Shanhaiguan in Hebei Province’s Bohai Bay.

It is mostly found in 15 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the control of the central government, including Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang.

3. Who Built the Great Wall of China?

The earliest history of the construction of the Great Wall can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty. At that time, occasionally some northern nomads would cross over to terrorize the common inhabitants of the Central Plains. As a result, the Western Zhou Dynasty constructed numerous castles as a means of defense. These castles marked the start of the Great Wall.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang was not the first to build the Great Wall. But he connected the northern walls of the vassal states he conquered.

√ Recommend Great Wall of China tours:

• 4 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Forbidden City and Great Wall
• 3 Days Beijing Package Tourwith Mutianyu Great Wall
• Beijing Highlight Day Tour with Great Wall

4. The Great Wall Length and Dimensions

One of the most important Great Wall of China facts is that how long it is.

In ancient Chinese history, the Great Wall was continually lengthened and heightened and thickened. The vassal states of the Central Plains that bordered the steppe took the initiative to build it.

After unifying China and establishing the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang connected the Great Walls of Qin, Zhao and Yan vassal states. The Great Wall of the Qin, Han and early periods exceeded 10,000 kilometers, with a total length of over 21,000 kilometers.

The Ming Dynasty, the last dynasty to build the Great Wall, also reached a length of 8,851.8 kilometers. The Great Wall we see today spans 15 provinces and cities, including Gansu and Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei and Shandong, connecting almost all of China’s northern provinces, traversing plains, mountains, deserts, and grasslands.

Today, the total length of the Great Wall the entire construction is 21,196.18 kilometres (13,171 miles) long.

5. The Great Wall is Not Continuous

Another fact of the Great Wall of China is that it is made up of a series of walls separated by fortifications and natural barriers, such as mountain ranges and rivers.

Today, many sections of the Great Wall in Beijing, Tianjin, and Jiayuguan, are open to visitors, such as Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Simatai, Huanghuacheng, and Badaling. Each has its own unique history and features. Some parts of them are very well preserved, some have been restored, and some others are lost in the ruins.

6. The 13 Famous Passes of the Great Wall

The Great Wall has thirteen dangerous passes, distributed horizontally from east to west: Shanhai Pass, Huangyaguan, Juyongguan, Zijingguan, Peking Pass, Pingxingguan, Yantouguan, Yanmenguan, Niangziguan, Jianhukou Pass, Jiayuguan, Yangguan, and Yumenguan.

Most of the materials used to build the Great Wall were stone or special wood. Except for those in desert areas, they have been preserved for a long time (except for human damage).

Read more:

• Top 10 Great Wall Sections around Beijing
• Camping on the Great Wall of China

7. What Was the Great Wall Made of?

Next , we come to the fact of the the Great Wall construction materials, which involved a wide range of materials, including stone, brick, wood, and even compacted earth. In some sections, workers used a mixture of sticky rice flour and slaked lime as mortar.

During the Ming Dynasty, people added a unique ingredient to the mortar to build the Wall: glutinous rice. Glutinous rice was mixed with slaked lime, sand, and water to hold the bricks in place and tie them together so tightly that weeds can’t grow in many places.

8. Can You See the Great Wall from Space?

This is one of the fun Great Wall facts. Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall cannot be seen from space with the naked eye. It is a common misconception that originated in the early 20th century but has been debunked by astronauts and scientific evidence.

9. Is the Great Wall of China Filled with Dead Bodies?

There is a popular claim (including in films and television programmes) that workers who died during the construction of the Great Wall of China were buried inside the Wall. However, there is little evidence to support this claim.

Historians believe that to build the Wall required a great deal of labour and resources. The Great Wall’s labour force consisted of soldiers, peasants who were forced to recruit, guilty men and prisoners of war.

While it is true that working conditions on the Wall were harsh and that workers were exposed to extreme heat, cold and other hazards, there is no historical record of anyone being buried alive. However, depending on the customs of the time, workers who died during the construction of the Wall may have been given a proper burial.

√Recommended Great Wall Tours from Beijing :

• Beijing No-shopping Group Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall
• 2 Days Beijing Stopover Tour: Great Wall+Forbidden City
• 2 Days Wild Great Wall Trekking & Camping Tour

10. Historical and Cultural Significance

One of world’s 7 wonders, the Great Wall of China served as a military defensive project against invasions from nomadic tribes and foreign powers. For more than 2,000 years, it witnessed countless wars, conquests, as well as cultural exchanges, representing China’s achievements in science, engineering and architecture.

10 More Cool Facts about the Great Wall of China

11. The Great Wall is the longest man-made structure on Earth.
12. In 1987, the Great Wall was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, for its outstanding universal value and contribution to humanity’s cultural heritage.
13. There are bullet holes in the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall, which is evidence of the last battle of the Great Wall.
14. The Great Wall served as a communication network using smoke signals and beacon fires in ancient China. In detail, when the soldiers on the foremost beacon tower discover enemies, they will burn the woodpiles, which produce fire and smoke, wave the flags, beat drums or fire the cannon to inform the message. After the near beacon towers receive the signals, they will repeat the above procedures immediately one by one. In this way, the message spreads quickly.
15. The most popular Great Wall legend is about Meng Jiangnu, whose husband died building the Wall. Her weeping was so painful that part of the Wall collapsed, revealing her husband’s bones, so she buried him.
16. The Badaling Great Wallis the first part open to visitors. More than 300 heads of state and dignitaries from around the world have visited Badaling.
17. Simatai GreatWall is illuminated at night, and welcome visitors with a night tour.
18. Parts of the Great Wall in the Northwest (e.g., Gansu and Ningxia Provinces) may disappear in 20 years due to desertification and changes in human land use.
19. The Great Wall has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, boosting its global recognition.However, the film The Great Wall, starring Matt Damon, was not filmed on the Wall.
20. The Great Wall Marathon is held every October at the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Related reading: 40 Fun Facts About China You Probably Don’t Know, Best Times to Visit the Great Wall of China

Current efforts to preserve the Great Wall

1. Dedicated regulations and laws have been published by the State Council and local governments for the protection of the Great Wall.
2. At present, over 6,000 protectors are distributed along the Great Wall to conduct daily patrols, watch over them, and report the condition of the Great Wall regularly.
3. During repair, raw materials, original processes, and original forms are applied as much as possible to preserve its historic appearance to the largest extent.
4. More high-tech means are used for monitoring and early warning. And a high-precision digital model has been generated. The establishment of images and 3D database of the entire Great Wall have been in progress to form digital archives.

Essential items to pack for a Great Wall hike

The most important item is a pair of anti-slippery hiking shoes, because the walkway on the Great Wall is uneven, with many gravels and steep slopes. Other necessary equipment includes an alpenstock, a backpack of appropriate capacity (20 – 30L for a day), a raincoat, a pair of sunglasses, a sunhat and a windbreaker or jacket. And remember to bring 2 – 3L of drinking water and some high-calorie snacks to replenish energy. In case you get injured, it is also advised to take a first-aid packet, including band-aids, disinfectants, painkillers, bandages, etc.

Related reading: Lesser-known Facts about the Ming Dynasty

FAQs about Great Walls

When was the Great Wall built, and how long did it take?

The Great Wall was initially built by the states separately during the Spring and Autumn and Warriors States Periods. In the later periods, several dynasties, such as Qin, Han, and Ming, have built or extended some sections and repair. So in total, its construction spans about 2,200 years.

Why is the Ming Dynasty section of the wall the most famous?

Because this section is the best-preserved section of the Great Wall. With exquisitely designed watchtowers, beacon towers and passes, this section integrates defense, garrison and communication functions, so it represents the peak of ancient military architectural art. Besides, located near Beijing, the Ming Dynasty section is developed earlier and well-equipped, making it the first choice for most tourists to admire the charm of the Great Wall.

What are the most famous sections of the Great Wall for visitors?

Badaling Great Wall is usually the most famous and representative section for almost all visitors. And the Mutianyu Great Wall is another popular section among foreign tourists.

What is the difference between the various sections of the wall, like Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling?

Badaling is the most famous and well-developed section, so there are cable cars and ropeways available for tourists. Its feature is magnificent and perilous. For first-comers and families, it is the most recommended. Mutianyu Great Wall is renowned as the most beautiful section. Thanks to its high vegetation coverage rate, there are various splendid natural scenery all year round. While Jinshanling Great Wall is relatively primitive and is especially famous for sunrise, sea of clouds and red leaves, making it a paradise for photographers.

What legends or myths are connected with the Great Wall?

The most well-known is Mengjiangnv Weeps for the Great Wall. It tells that the husband of Mengjiangnv died during the building of the Great Wall, so she cried at the wall so bitterly that a section of the wall collapsed. It reflects the condemnation of tyranny and praises for faithful love.

Another legend is the Dingcheng Brick, which happened in Jiayuguan Pass. Before the construction, a craftsman calculated that 99,999 bricks were required. But after completion, one brick is left over on the west gate tower. To avoid punishment, he explained that it was put by the deity to protect the wall and can not be moved, or the tower would collapse. So it remains there till now.

Plan Your Memorable Great Wall Tour with China Xian Tour

The magnificent Great Wall is a must-visit tourist attraction in China, so if you plan to visit the Great Wall in China, we are glad to tailor an itinerary at a reasonable price for you. Also, we can arrange a Beijing tour with the Great Wall, so that you can feel the charm of the city completely. Besides, a professional guide or a driver can also be assigned according to your needs. So do not hesitate to contact us now.