| | | | | heavily used in many areas of the wall, as were |
| Within a long time we had a thought to set up a | | | | materials such as tiles, lime, and stone. The size |
| website that could introduce the Great Wall of | | | | and weight of the bricks made them easier to |
| China to all over the world, which writings | | | | work with than earth and stone, so construction |
| appearing in sources online and offline are often | | | | quickened. Additionally, bricks could bear more |
| oversimple and centered generally on titles | | | | weight and endure better than rammed earth. |
| granted to the world's longest construction, and | | | | Stone can hold under its own weight better than |
| on travel information whose browsers might not | | | | brick, but is more difficult to use. Consequently, |
| know that the Great Wall is gasping under the | | | | stones cut in rectangular shapes were used for |
| burden of tourism. | | | | the foundation, inner and outer brims, and |
| The Great Wall is one of the largest building | | | | gateways of the wall. Battlements line the |
| construction projects ever completed. It | | | | uppermost portion of the vast majority of the |
| stretches across the mountains of northern China, | | | | wall, with defensive gaps a little over 30 cm (one |
| winding north and northwest of Beijing. It is | | | | foot) tall, and about 23 cm (9 inches) wide. |
| constructed of masonry, rocks and packed-earth. | | | | Construction |
| It was over 5,000 km (=10,000 Li) long. Its | | | | The mystery of the construction of the wall is |
| thickness ranged from about 4.5 to 9 meters (15 | | | | amazing. The construction of the Great Wall, drew |
| to 30 feet) and was up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) | | | | heavily on the local resources for construction |
| tall. | | | | materials, was carried out in line with the local |
| The wall was originally built of stone, wood, grass | | | | conditions under the management of contract and |
| and earth. In the Ming Dynasty bricks were | | | | responsibility system. A great army of |
| produced in kilns set up along the wall. The bricks | | | | manpower, composed of soldiers, prisoners, and |
| were transported by men carrying them on their | | | | local people, built the wall. The construction result |
| backs, donkeys, mules and even goats had a | | | | demonstrates the manifestation of the wisdom |
| brick tied to their head before being driven up a | | | | and tenacity of the Chinese people. |
| mountain. | | | | The Great Wall was renovated from time to time |
| History | | | | after the Qin Dynasty. A major renovation |
| The Chinese were already familiar with the | | | | started with the founding of the Ming Dynasty in |
| techniques of wall-building by the time of the | | | | 1368, and took 200 years to complete. The wall |
| Spring and Autumn Period, which began around | | | | we see today is almost exactly the result of this |
| the 7th century BC. During the Warring States | | | | effort. With a total length of over 6,000 |
| Period from the 5th century BC to 221 BC, the | | | | kilometers, it extends to the jiayu Pass in Gansu |
| states of Qi, Yan and Zhao all constructed | | | | Province in the west and to the mouth of the |
| extensive fortifications to defend their own | | | | Yalu River in Liaoning Province in the east. What |
| borders. Built to withstand the attack of small | | | | lies north of Beijing is but a small section of it. |
| arms such as swords and spears, these walls | | | | Much of the Wall is now in ruins but some parts |
| were made mostly by stamping earth and gravel | | | | of the the Great Wall of China have been |
| between board frames. Qin Shi Huang conquered | | | | repaired and are popular tourist attractions. |
| all opposing states and unified China in 221 BC, | | | | Thousands and thousands of people visit each |
| establishing the Qin Dynasty. | | | | year. |
| During the Ming Dynasty, however, bricks were | | | | |