The Great Wall of China is a long series of fortifications built along the historical borders of China that stretched from the east to the west. The wall was originally designed to protect the Chinese Empire against intrusion from the various nomadic groups or form other warlike groups with large military forces. The Great Wall was made from stone, wood, tamped earth, brick and other materials.
Many of the original walls were erected during the 7th century BC; but were not joined with the other walls until much later when they were made bigger and stronger. The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, built an especially famous part of the wall during 220–206 BC. Since that early time, the wall has undergone many renovations and enhancements, with the majority of the work being performed by workers from the Ming Dynasty.
The Great Wall extends throughout the Chinese Countryside like a giant dragon, where it meanders for more than 8,800 km or 5,500 miles across grasslands, over deserts, and through the mountains. The eastern end of the wall extends to the Bohai Gulf and the western end extends to the Hushan Mountain in the west. The wall crosses over ten provinces and numerous cities. Over its several thousand year history, the wall has undergone many changes from the Warring States to the Ming Dynasty.
Visiting the Wall
The Great Wall offers different sceneries throughout the seasons, offering fantastic shots of the landscape and wildlife. The best times for an ordinary visitor are during the autumn and spring season, from May to September or early October. During this time, the weather is traditionally sunny, with nice, brisk temperatures in May and September. June to August is the typical season for tourism, however temperatures are often much hotter. During the months from November to April, the weather is bitterly cold with chilling winds, and the Great Wall sees very few tourists.