Whether you are planning on taking a trip to China in the near future to view the famed Great Wall or are simply hoping to wow your friends or teachers with a little extra knowledge, there is certain information on the Great Wall of China that not everyone is immediately aware of. With any major landmark in the world, understanding a bit of the history and background only serves to deepen and enhance the experience.

Not only is the Great Wall of China one of the most extensive manmade structures on earth at 6700 Kilometers, it is a testament to two millennia of ingenuity and expansion by one of the oldest and most influential nations on the planet. For many, the beauty of the Great Wall cannot be properly expressed in words; it must be seen and it is for that reason that millions flock every year to Beijing and the northern border of China to witness the marvel.

While information on the Great Wall of China's early size and length is actually rather sparse due to the speed at which it deteriorated, it is known that the wall was first constructed in 221 BC after the creation of the Qin Dynasty. This marked the first time in history that China had been wholly unified and Emperor Qin wanted to ensure it remained as such, flooding countless resources into the wall's construction during the 15 year reign of the Qin.

However information on the Great Wall of China available in documents and historical records relays that the wall was being built and had purposes before Emperor Qin unified the country. The fortifications on which the wall was built were used many years before to signal between garrisons from afar. Eventually, small segments of wall were built to connect these fortifications and make communication and transport slightly easier.

Other Interesting Information on the Great Wall of China

?For a long time, the wall was known as the Ten Thousand Li Wall. A Li is a unit of measurement equal to about a half kilometer.

?The wall stretches from the West Coast of China to Xinjiang in the Northwest corner of the country, nearly 6700 Kilometers away.

?More than one million prisoners, soldiers and peasants worked on the construction of the wall. Many of those workers died in the process.

?The Eastern segments of the wall are better preserved because they were constructed with stones and bricks while other segments in the west utilized dirt and grass materials.

?There are 9 different segments of the wall that tourists can visit to this day throughout China. The Beijing section is the most popular, containing four smaller sections that tourists most often flock to; the Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai, and Shixiaguan sections.