Great Wall of China

history · China · architecture

Super long. The Great Wall isn't one single wall but many fortifications stretched across China's northern borders, built over many centuries.

Built for protection. It was made to defend ancient Chinese states and empires from nomadic groups riding in from the Eurasian Steppe.

Very old. The first walls date back to the 7th century BC, and the Qin dynasty later joined many of them together.

Famous Ming sections. The most well-known parts that visitors see today were built by the Ming dynasty between 1368 and 1644.