The Great Wall is reputed as one of the seven construction wonders in the world not only for its long history, but its massive construction size, and its unique architectural style as well. A great army of manpower, composed of soldiers, prisoners, and local people, built the wall.
Greatwall of china twists through deserts and plains, over mountains and plateaus like a Chinese dragon. The structure’s length is estimated at 8,852 kilometres.
The longer Chinese name “Ten-Thousand Mile Long Wall” came from Sima Qian’s description of it in the Records, though he did not name the walls as such.
The Chinese were already familiar with the techniques of wall buillding by the time of the spring and autuam period between the 8th and 5th centuries BC. During this time and the subsequent warring states period the states of qin, wei, zhao, qi, han, yan, and all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly of stone or by stamping earth and gravel between board frames.