The Great Wall of China is the longest structure in history by hand.

Several walls have been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall, which has been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.

It is 6,259.6 km (3,889.5 miles) long.


Watchtowers were built at regular intervals along the Great Wall and could be up to 40 feet tall.

That the Great Wall is not single and continuous wall built all at once, the wall is a discontinuous network of wall segments built by various dynasties to protect China’s northern boundary.


The Chinese invented the wheelbarrow and used it extensively in building the Great Wall

The last battle fought at the Great Wall was in 1938 during the Sino-Japanese War, which was between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan.

The highest point of the Great Wall is in Beijing at Heita Mountain (5,033 feet/1,534 meters). The lowest point is at Laolongtou (sea level).