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The Great Wall Of China

The Great Wall of China was first built in the 7th century BC, when China was still divided into many small states. The Great Wall was built mainly to protect the Chinese Empire from the Mongolians and other invaders. Its construction had never ceased for nearly all the Chinese feudal dynasties.

Today, the Great Wall of China extends 4,000 miles westward, from the China Sea town of Shanhaiguan to the Gansu Province. The most-visited part of the Great Wall is the section built to protect China's capital, Beijing. This section, built during the Ming dynasty and known as the Badaling, lies just 50 miles north of the metropolis.

The majestic wall was built with wisdom, dedication, blood, sweat and tears. It has been estimated that some 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall. As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in China, the Great Wall is considered a symbol of bravery and wisdom of Chinese people.