History
The Great Wall's history dates back more than 2,000 years. the ruling powers started erecting the wall against nomadic tribes uring the Warring States Period between 476 B.C. and 221 B.C.
Length
The great wall is estimated to stretch 5,500 miles across a variety of terrain including mountains and deserts. While the wall seems to go on forever, the notion that it is visible from space is untrue--no astronaut has actually claimed to see the wall.
Location
The wall stretches across eight provinces in North China, starting in the Gansu Province and running east to the seaside town of Shanhaigquan.
Most Visited Sections
The best-known and most-visited sections of the wall are at Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling. These parts were built during the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644.
Hiking
The Simatai Great Wall offers a challenging mountain hike along a section of unrestored original wall at least 400 years old. For visitors who prefer fewer crowds, the fully restored Great Wall at Mutianyu features watchtowers on overlapping mountain ranges.
Article Written By Nancy Wagner
Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.
