The Great Wall Of China Facts & Worksheets

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The Great Wall of China is a more than 13,000-mile-long historical network of walls and fortresses in northern China. The Great Wall, perhaps the most famous emblem of China and its long and vibrant history, was envisioned in the third century BCE by Emperor Qin Shi Huang as a technique of preventing incursions from barbarian nomads.

See the fact file below for more information about the Great Wall of China, or you can download our 35-page Great Wall of China worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF THE CONSTRUCTION

• The Great Wall of China is one of the world’s most impressive vistas — the world’s longest wall, an awe-inspiring masterpiece of an ancient defensive building. Its winding path across the complex territory and steep mountains provides spectacular sights.
• The Great Wall of China is over 2,300 years old. The Great Wall of China’s history dates back to the Autumn and Spring Period (770-476 BCE) and was last reconstructed as a defensive structure during the Ming Dynasty from 1368–1644.

WARRING STATES PERIOD (475 BCE–221 BCE)

• Independent states built unconnected walls to defend their territories from enemies. 
• The earliest and most well-known structure from these times was the Chu State Great Wall or The Square Wall.

QIN [CHIN] DYNASTY (221–207 BCE)

• After defeating the other states, Qin Shi Huang became the first emperor of unified China. 
• He ordered the linking of the states’ unconnected walls to form the first sections of the Great Wall. 
• He also had the wall extended to keep the northern Huns, constant enemies of the dynasty throughout its period, away.
  Length Built: 3, 107 miles

HAN DYNASTY (202 BCE–220 CE)

• The death of Shi Huangdi put an end to the Qin Dynasty. Then, the Han Dynasty rose under the rule of Emperor Gaozu. 
• Further extensions of the ancient wall were constructed and existing sections were renovated and reinforced like the Qin Dynasty Wall.
• The Han Dynasty Wall’s purpose in those times wasn’t just to keep the Huns at bay but also to protect the ancient Silk Road, which connected China to the West.
  Length Built: 6, 214 miles

THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DYNASTIES (420–589)

• When the unified Han Dynasty fell, several dynasties rose, causing chaos within the empire. 
• The Northern Wei, Northern Qi, Eastern Wei, and Northern Zhou Dynasties each built their own sections of The Great Wall to defend their territories.

SUI DYNASTY (581–618)

• After the chaotic years of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Sui Dynasty emerged. The emperors of this dynasty placed great emphasis on territory defense as northern nomadic tribes continued to be threats. 
• Northern and southern walls were built throughout the period. Accordingly, about 2 million laborers did the work in a span of 28 years.

TANG DYNASTY (618–907) 

• There was little building during this period as the empire enjoyed peace under the Tang Dynasty.
  Length Built: 93 miles

SONG DYNASTY (960–1279)

• The Song Dynasty had two parts. The first part, the Northern Song, rose after the Tang Dynasty but was in constant war against the Liao, Western Xia, and Jin Dynasties. 
• Construction of The Great Wall continued in this period, but it failed to stop the invasion of the Jin Dynasty in the north, causing the fall of the Northern Song.
• Emperor Gaozu of Song, however, managed to escape to the southern part of China and reestablish the dynasty in Lin’an (now Hangzhou), namely the Southern Song Dynasty. However, due to the lack of finances, the Southern Song did not build defense lines on the borders of their claimed territory.

JIN DYNASTY (1115–1234) 

• The Jin Dynasty reigned powerfully in China’s northeastern parts after the fall of the Song. Threats from the Western Xia and the Mongol Empire did not stop. 
• So, as a line of defense against the enemies, the northernmost section of The Great Wall was constructed in 1194. However, drought and objections from ministers cut the construction short. 
• Two years later, in 1196, the building of the wall resumed and finished in three years.
• The Jin Dynasty Wall was said to be 1,025 miles (1,650 kilometers) in length. Along its wall were garrisons, beacon towers, fortresses, and ditches.

YUAN DYNASTY (1271–1368) 

• The Mongol Empire rose and went on to absorb the Southern Song and the Jin Dynasties, the Western Xia as well as the other independent states in China. 
• The unification of all these governments marked the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. Because of its large territory and strong military power, very few sections of the Great Wall were built during this period.

MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

• The Ming Dynasty was “The Great Wall’s Golden Age,” during which the Wall’s history was at its peak. 
• The Ming, in its 200-year reign, went on to build 5,500 miles (8,851.8 kilometers) of the wall in defense against the Tartars, Jurchens, and other invading northern tribes. 
• Ming emperors also fortified the walls of previous dynasties by doubling and multi-lining them. Most of the Wall’s popular sites today date back to this period.

QING DYNASTY (1644–1911)

• No matter how strong the Ming Dynasty was, it failed to stop the advancing cavalries of the Qing Dynasty established by the Manchu people, who came from northeastern China. 
• The Qing Dynasty Wall was known as the Willow Line and consisted of a deep trench with willows planted along it. 
• This wasn’t a defense line, however, but a means to stop the Han people from migrating into Northeast China and Inner Mongolia.

LOCATION

• The Great Wall of China runs from west to east across northern China, primarily encompassing the following provinces: Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jilin, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Hubei, and Qinghai.
• The length of the Great Wall of China is 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi), half the equator. The information came from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. 
• The first information regarding the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, measuring 8,851 kilometers (5499 miles), was published by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage in 2009.

HOW AND WHY THE GREAT WALL WAS BUILT

• The magnificent Great Wall was constructed with foresight, commitment, blood, sweat, and tears. Families were split apart, and many workers died and were buried alongside the Great Wall.
  • Workers include troops, peasants, and insurgents.
  • Stone, earth, sand, and brick are the materials used.
  • Material distribution methods include hand, rope, wagon, and goat.
• During the Qin Dynasty, the First Emperor of Qin built the northern walls to prevent northern kingdoms from invading. 
• To defend the Silk Road trade, the emperors of the Han Dynasty extended the Great Wall well into today’s western China. 

STRUCTURE

• The Great Wall of China was more than just a structure. It was a comprehensive military defense system that included watchtowers for surveillance, strongholds for command and logistics, beacon towers for communications, and so on.
• The Great Wall was fortified and improved as construction techniques established during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) became more sophisticated.
• The Wall Body: The Ming Great Wall typically had battlements 1.8 meters (6 feet) high with loopholes, crenels, and parapet walls 1.2 meters (4 feet) high.
• Flanking towers: Every 500 meters (1,640 feet) along the Great Wall, a flanking tower allowed defenders to discharge arrows at attackers at the wall’s face.
• Fortresses: Juyong Pass Fortress, Shanhai Pass Fortress, and Jiayu Pass Fortress were built at essential/vulnerable access points (passes). 
• The forts had numerous archery windows and gateways. 
• The fortress gatehouses were the Great Wall’s most potent and unassailable fortifications.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Today, the Great Wall is universally recognized as one of human history’s most impressive architectural marvels.
• The Great Wall was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and a common idea evolved in the twentieth century that it is the only manmade structure visible from space. 
• Roadways have cut through the wall at various spots over the years, and several parts have deteriorated due to centuries of neglect. 
• The most well-known stretch of the Great Wall of China, Badaling, located 43 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Beijing, was reconstructed in the late 1950s and attracts thousands of national and international tourists every day.
• The Great Wall was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and a common idea evolved in the twentieth century that it is the only manmade structure visible from space (NASA has since disproved this claim).
• Badaling, located 43 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Beijing, is the most well-known stretch of the Great Wall of China, and it attracts thousands of national and international tourists daily.

PRESENT CONDITION

• Natural erosion and human destruction have resulted in the loss of around 2,000 kilometers, or 30%, of the Ming Great Wall. (Portions of many past dynasties’ Great Wall have vanished.)

RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF THE GREAT WALL

• To prevent further damage to the Great Wall, the Chinese government has taken the following precautions:
  • Made laws to defend the Great Wall.
  • Established protection, restoration, and upkeep funds.
  • Individuals can help to protect the Great Wall by doing the following:
  • Plant trees to guard the slopes of the Great Wall against erosion.
  • Do not litter or leave graffiti; remove rubbish and graffiti.
  • Do not cause harm to the Great Wall or take bricks home (it is against the law).

GREAT WALL CULTURE

• The Great Wall of China is a symbol of the country. It demonstrates not only China’s spirit of national pride, massive undertakings, and determined opposition but also the magnificent architecture and ingenuity of the country.
• Many unique legends and myths arose during the Great Wall’s building, such as Meng Jiangnu sobbing over the Great Wall, a tragic but passionate love story set during the Qin Dynasty.
• The story of Meng Jiangnu was so angry and heart-breaking. She was crying under the Great Wall for three days and three nights without stopping. Suddenly with a tremendous noise, a 400- kilometer-long (248-mile-long) section of the Great Wall collapsed over her bitter wail. And she found the corpse of her husband.

FUN FACTS

• The Great Wall is made from an assortment of materials — stone, rammed earth, and wood as well as bricks, tiles, and limestone during the Ming Dynasty. 
• But the most interesting material used for its building was glutinous rice, more commonly known as “sticky rice.” It was a component in the mortar recipe used for the walls. 
• According to modern investigations, sticky rice significantly contributed to the walls’ endurance and strength thanks to its cohesive properties [courtesy of the amylopectin it contains].
• It is only in recent times that China started recognizing The Great Wall as a powerful symbol of its history and culture. In ancient China, the wall was not regarded with the pride or sense of national unity that it holds today. 
• Instead, people held a negative view of wall construction due to the perilous and strenuous nature of the work involved. It has been estimated that 400,000 workers died throughout The Great Wall’s construction and repair.
• Today, The Great Wall of China measures 13,171 miles in length. However, experts believe that at its peak during the Ming Dynasty, The Long Wall was longer than it is now. Accordingly, some 1,200 miles of the wall have been destroyed from that period until the present, that’s about one-third of its original length. Experts also predict that some standing portions of The Great Wall will collapse by 2040 because of the erosion and weathering brought about by people and nature.
• On the other hand, new portions of The Great Wall have been discovered as recently as 2012. There are yet to be unearthed parts of the wall are said to be located in the northern part of China, on the borders of Mongolia.
• In 1987, the Great Wall of China received recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, in 2006, it earned the distinction of being one of the New Seven Wonders of the World as designated by the New7Wonders Foundation. Overall, the Long Wall traverses eleven provinces and encompasses two autonomous regions, namely Inner Mongolia and Ningxia.
• The wheelbarrow was invented in 200 BCE by a Chinese named Zhuge Liang. Experts say that the gadget was used extensively during the construction of The Great Wall.

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The Great Wall Of China Worksheets

This bundle contains 35 ready-to-use Great Wall Of China Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about The Great Wall of China, which is the series of walls and fortifications running across China’s historical northern borders in an east-west line.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications and walls built over centuries in northern China. It is one of the most iconic and recognizable architectural wonders in the world, known for its historical, military, and cultural significance.

When was the Great Wall of China built?

Construction of the Great Wall began in the 7th century BC and continued for centuries, with various Chinese dynasties adding sections and making repairs. The majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

The primary purpose of the Great Wall was to serve as a defensive fortification against invasions from nomadic tribes and military incursions from the north, such as the Mongols and Xiongnu. It was also used for border control, trade regulation, and as a means of communication along the Silk Road.

How long is the Great Wall of China?

The total length of the Great Wall is approximately 21,196 kilometers (13,171 miles). However, it is not a continuous wall but consists of multiple sections and walls built by different dynasties, often with natural barriers like rivers and mountains serving as part of the defense.

Can you visit the Great Wall of China today?

Yes, many sections of the Great Wall are open to tourists, and it has become a popular destination for both domestic and international travelers. Some of the most well-known sections include Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling. Visitors can explore these sections, hike along the wall, and learn about its history and significance at various museums and visitor centers.

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