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The majority of the Great Wall was built in 221-204 B.C., but construction first began in about 400 B.C.. The purpose of the wall was to defend against nearby Mongolian tribes. It was completed during the Sui dynasty, which was between 581and 618 A.D.. Much of the Wall fell down during this time, but was repaired during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.).
The Great Wall stands 25 feet high on average. Its base measures between 15-30 feet thick. What makes the Great wall so well known is its length. The Great Wall is nearly 4,000 miles long. It is the only man-made structure that can be seen from space. Millions of people come to travel along the wall each year. Since parts of the wall are falling apart, the Chinese government has been repairing parts of it since 1949.
An interesting story is that Emperor Shih Huang Ti would not let people that died working on the wall have a proper burial. Instead, they were to be built into the wall to save time. Because of this, archeologists have discovered tombs built into the Great Wall.
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Sites for further Information
"The Great Wall"
http://www.metrotel.co.uk/jvt/china9.htm
"Badaling Section of The Great Wall"
http://china-window.com/beijing/tour/iplace/badaling.html
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