Facts About The Great Wall Of China

Here are five facts about the Great Wall of China that you may not know about. Every year, an average six million tourists come to see this manmade structure which is considered one of the wonders of the world.

1. The Great Wall is approximately 5,500 miles (8,851 kilmeters). Although only one part is open to tourists, people have often tried to to walk the entire length. In 2007, Tarka L'Herpiniere and girlfriend Katie-Jane Cooper walked the entire Great Wall in 167 days, walking around 30 miles per day. But following in their footsteps is not recommended, considering it's against the law and both had to be hospitalized for injury and dehydration.
2. The building began during the reign of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. It was built in order to be a fortress against invaders. However, most of the building took place during the Ming Dynasty which is when the Great Wall was finished and ready to protect the land.
3. There are four sections to the Great Wall of China. There is the Badaling which is the most popular section. There is also the Simatai Great Wall section which is unrestored to show the original structure of the wall. The third section is the Shanhaiguan, otherwise known as "the first pass under Heaven." And, the last section is the Jiayuguan section which served as a part of the Silk Road.
4. After standing for over 2000 years, The Great Wall has been subject to erosion, construction, vandalism and graffiti. But, efforts have been made in order to preserve it for future generations. For example, regulations for constructing around the Great Wall have been put into place to keep it from being destroyed.
5. The Great Wall of China cannot be seen from space. It has been claimed that The Great Wall of China can be seen from space, possibly even seen by someone standing on the moon. Funny enough, regardless of how many times this has been debunked, it continues to be a long-standing, so-called "fact" that people still remember from grade school.