The Chinese one was built. The Great Wall of China: history of creation, length and interesting facts

The Chinese Wall is an amazing structure that took almost 2000 years to build and is 4 thousand kilometers long! Such long-term construction is not bad... Traditionally it is believed that the Great Wall of China began to be built in the 3rd century BC. For protection from northern nomads. On this occasion N.A. Morozov wrote:

“One thought is that the famous Chinese Wall, from 6 to 7 meters high, and up to three thick, stretching for THREE THOUSAND KILOMETERS, began construction back in 246 BC by Emperor Chi Hoang Ti and WAS COMPLETED ONLY AFTER 1866 YEARS, BY 1620 AD, is so absurd that it can only cause annoyance to a serious historian-thinker.

After all, every large construction has a predetermined practical purpose... Who would have the idea of ​​starting a huge construction that can only be completed in 2000 years, and until then will only be a useless burden for the population...

They will tell us that the wall has been repaired for two thousand years. Doubtful. It only makes sense to repair a building that is not very old, otherwise it will become hopelessly outdated and simply fall apart. This is what we are seeing, by the way, in Europe.

Old defensive walls were dismantled and new, more powerful ones were built in their place. For example, many military fortifications in Rus' were rebuilt in the 16th century.

But we are told that the Chinese Wall, as it was built, stood for TWO THOUSAND YEARS. They don’t say that “a modern wall was recently built on the site of an ancient one.”

No, they say that we see exactly the wall that was built two thousand years ago. In our opinion this is extremely strange, to say the least.

When and against whom was the wall built? We cannot answer for sure. This requires additional research. However, let us express the following thought.

The Great Wall of China was built primarily as a structure marking the BORDER between two countries: China and Russia.

It is doubtful that it was built as a military defensive structure. And it is unlikely that it has ever been used in this capacity. Defending a 4000-kilometer wall from enemy attack is SPOILESS.

L.N. Gumilyov quite rightly wrote: “The wall stretched for 4 thousand km. Its height reached 10 meters, and watchtowers rose every 60-100 meters.

But when the work was completed, it turned out that all of China’s armed forces were not enough to organize an effective defense on the wall

In fact, if you place a small detachment on each tower, the enemy will destroy it before the neighbors have time to gather and send help.

If large detachments are spaced out less frequently, gaps will form through which the enemy can easily and unnoticed penetrate deep into the country. A FORTRESS WITHOUT DEFENDERS IS NOT A FORTRESS

How does our point of view differ from the traditional one? We are told that the Wall separated China from the nomads in order to secure the country from their raids. But as Gumilev correctly noted, such an explanation does not stand up to criticism.

If the nomads wanted to cross the Wall, they could easily do so. And more than once. And anywhere. We offer a completely different explanation.

We believe that the Wall was built primarily to MARK THE BORDER BETWEEN TWO STATES. And it was built when an agreement was reached on this border. Apparently in order to eliminate border disputes in the future.

And there probably were such disputes. Today, the parties to the agreement draw the border ON THE MAP (that is, on paper). And they think that this is enough.

And in the case of Russia and China, the Chinese, apparently, attached such importance to the agreement that they decided to immortalize it not only on paper, but also “on the ground,” by drawing the Wall along the agreed border.

This was more reliable and, as the Chinese thought, would eliminate border disputes for a long time. The length of the Wall itself speaks in favor of this assumption. Four, or one or two thousand kilometers is normal for the border between two states. But for a purely military structure it makes no sense. But the political border

China has changed many times over its supposedly more than two thousand-year history. This is what the historians themselves tell us. China united, then fell apart into separate regions, lost and gained some lands, etc.

On the one hand, this seems to make it difficult to verify our reconstruction. But on the other hand, on the contrary, we are given the opportunity not only to check it, but also to DATE the construction of the Wall.

If we manage to find a political-geographical map on which the BORDER OF CHINA WILL GO EXACTLY ALONG THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, this will mean that EXACTLY AT THIS TIME THE WALL WAS BUILT.

Today the Chinese Wall is INSIDE China. Was there a time when it marked the BORDER OF THE COUNTRY? And when did this happen? It is clear that if it was being built as a BORDER WALL, then IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXACTLY ALONG THE POLITICAL BORDER OF CHINA at that time.

This will allow us to date the construction of the Wall. Let's try to find a GEOGRAPHICAL MAP on which the Chinese Wall runs EXACTLY ALONG THE POLITICAL BORDER OF CHINA. It is important that SUCH CARDS EXIST. And there are many of them. These are maps of the 17th-18th centuries.

Let's take a map of Asia from the 18th century made by the Royal Academy in Amsterdam: . We took this map from a rare atlas of the 18th century.

On this map we find two states: Tartary - Tartarie and China - Chine. China's northern border runs approximately along the 40th parallel. THE CHINA WALL GOES EXACTLY ALONG THIS BORDER.

Moreover, on the map this Wall is MARKED as a thick line with the inscription Muraille de la Chine, that is, “the high wall of China” translated from French.

We see the same Chinese Wall, and with the same inscription on it, on another map of 1754 - Carte de l’Asie, which we took from a rare atlas of the 18th century. Here the Chinese Wall also roughly follows the border between China and Great Tartary, that is, Mongol-Tatary = Russia.

We see the same thing on another map of Asia in the 17th century, in the famous Blau atlas. The Chinese Wall runs exactly along the border of China, and only a small western section of the Wall is inside China.

Our idea is also supported by the fact that cartographers of the 18th century PLACED THE CHINESE WALL ON THE POLITICAL MAP OF THE WORLD.

Therefore, this Wall HAD THE MEANING OF A POLITICAL BORDER. After all, cartographers did not depict other “wonders of the world” on this map, for example, the Egyptian pyramids.

And the Chinese Wall was painted. The same Wall is depicted on the color map of the Qing Empire of the second half of the 17th-18th centuries in the academic 10-volume World History

This map shows the Great Wall in detail, with all its small curves in the terrain. Almost along its entire length it runs EXACTLY ALONG THE BORDER OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE, with the exception of the small westernmost section of the Wall, no more than 200 kilometers long. Apparently

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA WAS BUILT IN THE 16th-17th CENTURIES AS A POLITICAL BORDER BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA = “MONGOL-TATARIA”.

It is impossible to admit that the “ancient” Chinese had such an amazing gift of foresight that they accurately predicted exactly how the border between China and Russia would go in the 17th-18th centuries of the NEW ERA, that is, in two thousand years.

They may object to us: on the contrary, the border between Russia and China in the 17th century was drawn along the ancient Wall. However, in this case, the Wall would have to be mentioned in a written Russian-Chinese treaty. We found no such references.

When was the Wall = Border between Russia = “Mongol-Tataria” and China built? Apparently, it was in the 17th century. No wonder it is believed that its construction was “completed” only in 1620. And maybe even later. See below about this.

In this regard, we immediately remember that EXACTLY at this time there were BORDER WARS between Russia and China. Probably, only at the end of the 17th century they agreed on the border. And then they built a wall to FIX THE AGREEMENT.

Was this Wall before the 17th century? Apparently not. Scaligerian history tells us that China was conquered by the “MONGOLS” in the 13th century AD. e. More precisely, in 1279. And became part of the huge “Mongolian” = Great Empire.

According to the new chronology, the correct dating of this conquest is the end of the 14th century, that is, a hundred years later. In the Scaligerian history of China, this event was noted in the 14th century as the coming to power of the MING dynasty in 1368, that is, the SAME MONGOLS.

As we now understand, in the XIV-XVI centuries Rus' AND CHINA STILL CONSTITUTED ONE EMPIRE. Therefore, there was no need to build a Wall = Border.

Most likely, such a need arose after the unrest in Rus', the defeat of the Russian Horde dynasty and the seizure of power by the Romanovs. As you know, the Romanovs abruptly changed Russia’s political course, trying to subordinate the country to Western influence.

This pro-Western orientation of the new dynasty led to the collapse of the Empire. Türkiye separated, and with it began heavy wars. China also separated. And, in fact, control over a significant part America. Relations between China and the Romanovs became tense, and border conflicts began. It was necessary to build a Wall, which was done.

Apparently, it is possible to even more accurately indicate the time of construction of the Great Wall of China. As we have already said, the Wall was apparently built as a border between China and Russia during the border disputes of the 17th century. ARMED COLLISIONS flared up from the middle of the 17th century. The wars went on with varying degrees of success. Descriptions of these wars were preserved in Khabarov’s notes.

The treaty FIXING THE NORTHERN BORDER OF CHINA WITH RUSSIA was concluded in 1689 in Nerchinsk. Perhaps there were earlier attempts to conclude a Russian-Chinese treaty.

It should be expected that the Chinese Wall was built between 1650 and 1689. This expectation is justified. It is known that the Emperor = Bogdykhan Kangxi “began the implementation of his plan to oust the RUSSIANS FROM AMUR.

HAVING BUILT A CHAIN ​​OF FORTIFICATIONS IN MANZHURIA, Bogdykhan sent the Manzhur army to the Amur in 1684.” What kind of CHAIN ​​OF FORTENTS did Bogdykhan build by 1684? He most likely built the Great Wall of China. That is, a CHAIN ​​OF FORTIFIED TOWERS CONNECTED BY A WALL

SOME Russian researchers (President of the Academy of Basic Sciences A.A. Tyunyaev and his like-minded person, honorary doctor of the University of Brussels V.I. Semeiko) express doubts about the generally accepted version of the origin of the protective structure on the northern borders of the Qin Dynasty state. In November 2006, in one of his publications, Andrei Tyunyaev formulated his thoughts on this topic as follows: “As you know, to the north of the territory of modern China there was another, much more ancient civilization. This has been repeatedly confirmed by archaeological discoveries made, in particular, in Eastern Siberia. Impressive evidence of this civilization, comparable to Arkaim in the Urals, not only has not yet been studied and comprehended by the world historical science, but did not even receive proper assessment in Russia itself.”

As for the so-called “Chinese” wall, it is not entirely legitimate to talk about it as an achievement of ancient Chinese civilization. Here, to confirm our scientific correctness, it is enough to cite only one fact. THE LOOPS on a significant part of the wall ARE NOT DIRECTED TO THE NORTH, BUT TO THE SOUTH! And this is clearly visible not only in the most ancient, unreconstructed sections of the wall, but even in recent photographs and works of Chinese drawing.

It is generally accepted that it began to be built back in the 3rd century BC. to protect the state of the Qin dynasty from the attacks of the “northern barbarians” - the nomadic Xiongnu people. In the 3rd century AD, during the Han Dynasty, construction of the wall was resumed and it was expanded westward.

Over time, the wall began to collapse, but during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), according to Chinese historians, the wall was restored and strengthened. Those parts of it that have survived to this day were built mainly in the 15th - 16th centuries.

During the three centuries of the Manchu Qing dynasty (from 1644), the defensive structure became dilapidated and almost everything was destroyed, since the new rulers of the Celestial Empire did not need protection from the north. Only in our time, in the mid-1980s, did restoration of sections of the wall begin as material evidence ancient origin statehood in the lands of Northeast Asia.

Previously, the Chinese themselves made the discovery that ancient Chinese writing belonged to another people. There are already published works proving that these people were the Aryan Slavs.
In 2008 on the First international congress"Pre-Kyrill Slavic writing and pre-Christian Slavic culture" in Leningrad state university named after A.S. Pushkin Tyunyaev made a report “China - younger brother Rus'", during which he presented fragments of Neolithic ceramics from the territory
eastern part Northern China. The signs depicted on the ceramics did not look like Chinese characters, but demonstrated almost complete coincidence with the Old Russian runica - up to 80 percent.

The researcher, based on the latest archaeological data, expresses the opinion that during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages the population of the western part of Northern China was Caucasian. Indeed, throughout Siberia, right up to China, mummies of Caucasians are being discovered. According to genetic data, this population had the Old Russian haplogroup R1a1.

This version is also supported by the mythology of the ancient Slavs, which tells about the movement of the ancient Rus in an eastern direction - they were led by Bogumir, Slavunya and their son Scythian. These events are reflected, in particular, in the Book of Veles, which, let us make a reservation, is not recognized by academic historians.

Tyunyaev and his supporters point out that the Great Wall of China was built similarly to European and Russian medieval walls, the main purpose of which was protection from firearms. The construction of such structures began no earlier than the 15th century, when cannons and other siege weapons appeared on the battlefields. Before the 15th century, the so-called northern nomads did not have artillery.

Pay attention from which side the sun is shining.

BASED ON THIS DATA, Tyunyaev expresses the opinion that the wall in eastern Asia was built as a defensive structure marking the border between two medieval states. It was erected after an agreement was reached on the delimitation of territories. And this, according to Tyunyaev, is confirmed by the map of that
time when the border between Russian Empire and the Qing Empire passed precisely along the wall.

We are talking about a map of the Qing Empire of the second half of the 17th-18th centuries, presented in the academic 10-volume “ World history" That map shows in detail a wall running exactly along the border between the Russian Empire and the empire of the Manchu dynasty (Qing Empire).

There are other translation options from the French phrase “Muraille de la Chine” - “wall from China”, “wall delimiting from China”. After all, in an apartment or in a house we call the wall that separates us from our neighbors the neighbor’s wall, and the wall that separates us from the street - outer wall. We have the same thing when naming borders: Finnish border, Ukrainian border... In this case, the adjectives indicate only the geographical location of the Russian borders.
It is noteworthy that in medieval Rus' there was a word “kita” - a knitting of poles that were used in the construction of fortifications. Thus, the name of the Moscow district Kitai-Gorod was given in the 16th century for the same reasons - the building consisted of stone wall with 13 towers and 6 gates...

According to the opinion enshrined in official version history, the Great Wall of China began to be built in 246 BC. under Emperor Shi Huangdi, its height was from 6 to 7 meters, the purpose of construction was protection from northern nomads.

Russian historian L.N. Gumilyov wrote: “The wall stretched for 4 thousand km. Its height reached 10 meters, and watchtowers rose every 60-100 meters.” He noted: “When the work was completed, it turned out that all of China’s armed forces were not enough to organize an effective defense on the wall. In fact, if you place a small detachment on each tower, the enemy will destroy it before the neighbors have time to gather and send help. If large detachments are placed less frequently, gaps will be created through which the enemy can easily and unnoticed penetrate into the interior of the country. A fortress without defenders is not a fortress.”

Moreover, the towers of the loophole are located on the South side, as if the defenders were repelling attacks from the NORTH????
Andrey Tyunyaev proposes to compare two towers - from the Chinese Wall and from the Novgorod Kremlin. The shape of the towers is the same: a rectangle, slightly narrowed at the top. There is an entrance leading into both towers from the wall, which is blocked round arch, made of the same brick as the wall with the tower. Each of the towers has two upper “working” floors. On the first floor of both towers there are round-arched windows. The number of windows on the first floor of both towers is 3 on one side and 4 on the other. The height of the windows is approximately the same - about 130-160 centimeters.
What does a comparison of the surviving towers of the Chinese city of Beijing with the medieval towers of Europe say? The fortress walls of the Spanish city of Avila and Beijing are very similar to each other, especially in the fact that the towers are located very often and have practically no architectural adaptations for military needs. The Beijing towers have only an upper deck with loopholes, and are laid out at the same height as the rest of the wall.
Neither the Spanish nor the Beijing towers show such a high similarity with the defensive towers of the Chinese Wall, as do the towers of Russian kremlins and fortress walls. And this is something for historians to think about.

Badaling is the most visited section of the Great Wall of China by tourists.

“A long wall of 10,000 li” is what the Chinese themselves call this miracle of ancient engineering. For a huge country with a population of almost one and a half billion, it has become a source of national pride, a calling card that attracts travelers from all over the world. Today, the Great Wall of China is one of the most popular attractions - approximately 40 million people visit it every year. In 1987, the unique site was included by UNESCO in the list of world cultural heritage.

Local residents also like to repeat that anyone who does not climb the wall is not a real Chinese. This phrase, uttered by Mao Zedong, is perceived as a real call to action. Despite the fact that the height of the structure is approximately 10 meters with a width of 5-8 m in different areas (not to mention the not very comfortable steps), there are no fewer foreigners who want to feel like true Chinese, at least for a moment. In addition, from above, a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area opens up, which you can admire endlessly.

You can’t help but wonder how harmoniously this creation of human hands fits into the natural landscape, forming a single whole with it. The solution to the phenomenon is simple: the Great Wall of China was not laid across desert terrain, but next to hills and mountains, spurs and deep gorges, smoothly bending around them. But why did the ancient Chinese need to build such a large and extensive fortification? How did the construction proceed and how long did it last? These questions are asked by everyone who has been lucky enough to visit here at least once. Researchers have long ago received answers to them, and we will dwell on the rich historical past of the Great Wall of China. It itself leaves tourists with an ambiguous impression, since some areas are in excellent condition, while others are completely abandoned. Only this circumstance in no way detracts from the interest in this object - rather, on the contrary.

History of the construction of the Great Wall of China

In the 3rd century BC, one of the rulers of the Celestial Empire was Emperor Qing Shi Huang. His era fell on the Warring States period. It was a difficult and contradictory time. The state was threatened from all sides by enemies, especially the aggressive Xiongnu nomads, and it needed protection from their treacherous raids. Thus was born the decision to build an impregnable wall - high and extensive, so that no one could disturb the peace of the Qin Empire. At the same time, this structure was supposed to be, to put it modern language, demarcate the boundaries of the ancient Chinese kingdom and promote its further centralization. The wall was also intended to solve the issue of “purity of the nation”: by fencing off the barbarians, the Chinese would be deprived of the opportunity to enter into marriage relations with them and have children together.

The idea of ​​​​building such a grandiose border fortification was not born out of the blue. There were already precedents. Many kingdoms - for example, Wei, Yan, Zhao and the already mentioned Qin - tried to build something similar. The State of Wei built its wall around 353 BC. BC: the adobe structure divided it with the Qin kingdom. Later, this and other border fortifications were connected to each other, and they formed a single architectural ensemble.

Construction of the Great Wall of China has started along Yingshan - mountain system in Inner Mongolia, which is in northern China. The emperor appointed commander Meng Tian to coordinate its progress. There was a lot of work to be done. Previously built walls needed to be strengthened, connected with new sections and extended. As for the so-called “internal” walls, which served as boundaries between individual kingdoms, they were simply demolished.

The construction of the first sections of this grandiose object took a total of a decade, and the construction of the entire Great Wall of China lasted for two millennia (according to some evidence, even for as long as 2,700 years). At its different stages, the number of people simultaneously involved in the work reached three hundred thousand. In total, the authorities attracted (more precisely, forced) about two million people to join them. These were representatives of many social strata: slaves, peasants, and military personnel. The workers worked in inhumane conditions. Some died from overwork as such, others became victims of severe and incurable infections.

The terrain itself was not conducive to comfort, at least relative. The structure ran along the mountain ranges, skirting all the spurs extending from them. The builders moved forward, overcoming not only high climbs, but also many gorges. Their sacrifices were not in vain - at least from the perspective of today: it was precisely this landscape of the area that determined the unique appearance of the miracle structure. Not to mention its size: on average, the height of the wall reaches 7.5 meters, and this does not take into account the rectangular teeth (with them the entire 9 m is obtained). Its width is also uneven - at the bottom 6.5 m, at the top 5.5 m.

The Chinese popularly call their wall the “earth dragon.” And it is by no means accidental: at the very beginning, any materials were used during its construction, primarily compacted earth. It was done like this: first, shields were woven from reeds or twigs, and between them clay, small stones and other available materials were pressed in layers. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang got down to business, they began to use more reliable stone slabs, which were laid close to each other.

Surviving sections of the Great Wall of China

However, it was not only the variety of materials that determined the heterogeneous appearance of the Great Wall of China. The towers also make it recognizable. Some of them were built even before the wall itself appeared, and were built into it. Other elevations appeared simultaneously with the stone “border”. It is not difficult to determine which ones were before and which ones were built after: the first ones have a smaller width and are located at unequal distances, while the second ones fit organically into the building and are exactly 200 meters apart from each other. They were usually built rectangular, on two floors, equipped with upper platforms with loopholes. Observation of enemy maneuvers, especially when they were advancing, was carried out from signal towers located here on the wall.

When the Han Dynasty, which ruled from 206 BC to 220 AD, came to power, the Great Wall of China was expanded westward to Dunhuang. During this period, the object was equipped with a whole line of watchtowers that went deep into the desert. Their purpose was to protect caravans with goods, which often suffered from raids by nomads. Most of the sections of the wall that have survived to this day were built during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. They were built mainly from more reliable and durable materials - stone blocks and bricks. Over the three centuries of the reign of the said dynasty, the Great Wall of China “grew” significantly, stretching from the coast of Bohai Bay (Shanhaiguan Outpost) to the border of the modern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province (Yumenguan Outpost).

Where does the wall begin and end?

The man-made border of Ancient China originates in the north of the country, in the city of Shanghai-guan, located on the shores of the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea, which once had strategic importance on the borders of Manchuria and Mongolia. This is the easternmost point of the 10,000 Li Long Wall. The Laoluntou Tower is also located here, it is also called the “dragon’s head”. The tower is also notable for the fact that it is the only place in the country where the Great Wall of China is washed by the sea, and it itself goes as much as 23 meters into the bay.

The most western point The monumental structure is located in the vicinity of the city of Jiayuguan, in the central part of the Celestial Empire. Here the Great Wall of China remains the best way. This site was built back in the 14th century, so it also might not stand the test of time. But it survived due to the fact that it was constantly strengthened and repaired. The westernmost outpost of the empire was built near Mount Jiayuoshan. The outpost was equipped with a moat and walls - internal and semicircular external. There are also main gates located on the western and eastern sides of the outpost. The Yuntai Tower stands proudly here, considered by many almost as a separate attraction. Inside, Buddhist texts and bas-reliefs of ancient Chinese kings are carved on the walls, which arouse the constant interest of researchers.

Myths, legends, interesting facts

For a long time It was believed that the Great Wall of China could be seen from space. Moreover, this myth was born long before flights into low-Earth orbit, in 1893. This was not even an assumption, but a statement made by The Century magazine (USA). Then they returned to this idea in 1932. The then famous showman Robert Ripley claimed that the structure could be seen from the moon. With the advent of the era of space flight, these claims were generally refuted. According to NASA experts, the object is barely visible from orbit, from which it is approximately 160 km from the Earth's surface. The wall, and then with the help of strong binoculars, was able to be seen by the American astronaut William Pogue.

Another myth takes us directly back to the construction of the Great Wall of China. An ancient legend says that powder prepared from human bones was allegedly used as a cementing solution that held the stones together. There was no need to go far to get the “raw materials” for it, given that many workers died here. Fortunately, this is just a legend, albeit a creepy one. Ancient masters actually prepared the adhesive solution from powder, but the base of the substance was ordinary rice flour.

There is a legend that a large fiery Dragon paved the way for the workers. He indicated in which areas the wall should be built, and the builders steadily followed in his footsteps. Another legend tells of a farmer's wife named Meng Jing Nu. Having learned about the death of her husband during construction, she came there and began to cry inconsolably. As a result, one of the plots collapsed, and the widow saw the remains of her loved one underneath, which she was able to take and bury.

It is known that the wheelbarrow was invented by the Chinese. But few people know that they were prompted to do this by the beginning of the construction of a grandiose project: the workers needed a convenient device with which they could transport building materials. Some sections of the Great Wall of China, which were of exceptional strategic importance, were surrounded by protective ditches, filled with water or left in the form of ditches.

Great Wall of China in winter

Sections of the Great Wall of China

Several sections of the Great Wall of China are open to tourists. Let's talk about some of them.

The outpost closest to Beijing, the modern capital of the People's Republic of China, is Badaling (it is also one of the most popular). It is located north of the Juyunguan Pass and only 60 km from the city. It was built during the era of the ninth Chinese emperor, Hongzhi, who reigned from 1487 to 1505. Along this section of the wall there are signal platforms and watchtowers, which offer a magnificent view if you climb to its highest point. At this location, the height of the object reaches an average of 7.8 meters. The width is sufficient for 10 pedestrians to pass or 5 horses to pass.

Another outpost quite close to the capital is called Mutianyu and is located 75 km from it, in Huairou, a municipal district of Beijing. This area was built during the reign of Emperors Longqing (Zhu Zaihou) and Wanli (Zhu Yijun), who belonged to the Ming Dynasty. At this point the wall takes a sharp turn towards the northeastern regions of the country. The local landscape is mountainous, with many steep slopes and cliffs. The outpost is notable for the fact that at its southeastern end three branches of the “great stone border” come together, and at a height of 600 meters.

One of the few areas where the Great Wall of China has been preserved almost in its original form is Symatai. It is located in the village of Gubeikou, which is 100 km northeast of Miyun County, which belongs to the municipality of Beijing. This section stretches for 19 km. In its southeastern part, impressive with its impregnable appearance even today, there are partially preserved observation towers (14 in total).

The steppe section of the wall originates from the Jinchuan Gorge - this is to the east county town Shandan, in Zhangye County, Gansu Province. In this place, the structure stretches for 30 km, and its height varies between 4-5 meters. In ancient times, the Great Wall of China was supported on both sides by a parapet that has survived to this day. The gorge itself deserves special attention. At a height of 5 meters, if you count from its bottom, several carved hieroglyphs can be seen right on the rocky cliff. The inscription translates as "Jinchuan Citadel".

In the same Gansu province, north of the Jiayuguan outpost, at a distance of only 8 km, there is a steep section of the Great Wall of China. It was built during the Ming Empire. It received this appearance due to the specifics of the local landscape. The bends of the mountainous terrain, which the builders were forced to take into account, “lead” the wall to a steep descent straight into the crevice, where it runs smoothly. In 1988, Chinese authorities restored this site and opened it to tourists a year later. From the watchtower there is a magnificent panorama of the surroundings on both sides of the wall.

A steep section of the Great Wall of China

The ruins of the Yanguan outpost are located 75 km southwest of the city of Dunhuang, which in ancient times served as the gateway to the Celestial Empire on the Great Silk Road. In ancient times, the length of this section of the wall was approximately 70 km. Here you can see impressive piles of stones and earthen ramparts. All this leaves no doubt: there were at least a dozen sentinel and signal towers here. However, they have not survived to this day, except for the signal tower north of the outpost, on Mount Dundong.

The section known as the Wei Wall originates in Chaoyuandun (Shaanxi Province), located on the west coast of the Changjian River. Not far from here is the northern spur of one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism - Huashan, which belongs to the Qinling Range. From here, the Great Wall of China moves towards the northern regions, as evidenced by its fragments in the villages of Chennan and Hongyan, of which the first is best preserved.

Measures to preserve the wall

Time has not been kind to this unique architectural object, which many call the eighth wonder of the world. The rulers of the Chinese kingdoms did everything in their power to counteract the destruction. However, from 1644 to 1911 - the period of the Manchu Qing dynasty - the Great Wall was practically abandoned and suffered even greater destruction. Only the Badaling section was maintained in order, and that was because it was located near Beijing and was considered the “front gate” to the capital. History, of course, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but if not for the betrayal of the commander Wu Sangui, who opened the gates of the Shanhaiguan outpost to the Manchus and let the enemy through, the Ming dynasty would not have fallen, and the attitude towards the wall would have remained the same - careful.

Deng Xiaoping, the founder of economic reforms in the PRC, paid great attention to preserving the country's historical heritage. It was he who initiated the restoration of the Great Wall of China, the program of which started in 1984. It was financed from a variety of sources, including funds from foreign business structures and donations from individuals. To raise money in the late 80s, an art auction was even held in the capital of the Celestial Empire, the progress of which was widely covered not only in the country itself, but also by leading television companies in Paris, London and New York. The proceeds were used to conduct big job, but sections of the wall remote from tourist centers are still in poor condition.

On September 6, 1994, the Great Wall of China Thematic Museum was inaugurated in Badaling. Behind the building, which resembles a wall with its appearance, she herself is located. The institution is designed to popularize the great historical and cultural heritage of this, without exaggeration, unique architectural object.

Even the corridor in the museum is stylized like it - it is distinguished by its tortuousness, along its entire length there are “passages”, “signal towers”, “fortresses”, etc. The excursion makes you feel as if you are traveling along the real Great Wall of China: it’s so here everything is thought out and realistic.

Note to tourists

On the Mutianyu section, the longest of the fully restored fragments of the wall, located 90 km north of the capital of the People's Republic of China, there are two funiculars. The first is equipped with closed cabins and is designed for 4-6 people, the second is an open lift, similar to ski lifts. Those suffering from acrophobia (fear of heights) are better off not taking risks and prefer a walking tour, which, however, is also fraught with difficulties.

Climbing the Great Wall of China is quite easy, but descending can turn into real torture. The fact is that the height of the steps is not the same and varies between 5-30 centimeters. You should go down them with extreme care and it is advisable not to stop, because after a pause it is much more difficult to resume the descent. One tourist even calculated: climbing the wall at its lowest section involves climbing 4 thousand (!) steps.

Time to visit, how to get to the Great Wall of China

Excursions to the Mutianyu site from March 16 to November 15 are held from 7:00 to 18:00, in other months - from 7:30 to 17:00.

The Badaling site is available for visits from 6:00 to 19:00 at summer period and from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter.

You can get acquainted with the Symatai site in November-March from 8:00 to 17:00, in April-November - from 8:00 to 19:00.

A visit to the Great Wall of China is provided both as part of excursion groups and on an individual basis. In the first case, tourists are delivered by special buses, which usually depart from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Yabaolu and Qianmen streets; in the second, inquisitive travelers are served public transport or a private car with driver hired for the whole day.

First option will do for those who find themselves in the Celestial Empire for the first time and do not know the language. Or, on the contrary, those who know the country and speak Chinese, but at the same time want to save money: group excursions are relatively inexpensive. But there are also costs, namely the significant duration of such tours and the need to focus on other members of the group.

Public transport to get to the Great Wall of China is usually used by those who know Beijing well and speak and read at least a little English. Chinese. A trip by regular bus or train will cost less than even the most attractively priced group tour. There is also time savings: a self-guided tour will allow you not to be distracted, for example, by visiting numerous souvenir shops, where guides love to take tourists in the hope of earning their commissions from sales.

Renting a driver and a car for the whole day is the most comfortable and flexible way to get to the section of the Great Wall of China that you choose. The pleasure is not cheap, but it is worth it. Wealthy tourists often book a car through the hotel. You can simply catch one on the street, like an ordinary taxi: this is how many residents of the capital earn money, readily offering their services to foreigners. Just don’t forget to get the driver’s phone number or take a photo of the car itself, so you don’t have to look for it for a long time if the person leaves or drives off somewhere before you return from the excursion.

The Great Wall of China is also called the Long Wall. Its length is 10 thousand li, or more than 20 thousand kilometers, and to reach its height, a dozen people must stand on each other’s shoulders... It is compared to a writhing dragon, stretching from the Yellow Sea to the Tibetan mountains. There is no other similar structure on earth.

Temple of Heaven: Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

Construction of the Great Wall of China begins

According to the official version, construction began during the Warring States period (475-221 BC), under Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, in order to protect the state from the attacks of the Xiongnu nomads, and lasted ten years. About two million people built the wall, which then amounted to a fifth of the total population of China. Among them were people of various classes - slaves, peasants, soldiers... The construction was supervised by the commander Meng Tian.

Legend has it that the emperor himself rode on a magical white horse, plotting the route for the future structure. And where his horse stumbled, then a watchtower was erected... But this is just a legend. But the story about the dispute between the Master and the official looks much more plausible.

The fact is that the construction of such a huge building required talented builders. There were plenty of them among the Chinese. But one was especially distinguished by his intelligence and ingenuity. He was so skilled in his craft that he could accurately calculate how many bricks were needed for such a construction...

The imperial official, however, doubted the Master's ability and set a condition. If, they say, the Master makes a mistake by only one brick, he himself will install this brick on the tower in honor of the craftsman. And if the mistake amounts to two bricks, then let him blame his arrogance - severe punishment will follow...

A lot of stones and bricks were used for the construction. After all, in addition to the wall, watchtowers and gate towers also rose. There were about 25 thousand of them along the entire route. So, on one of these towers, which is located near the famous ancient Silk Road, you can see a brick, which, unlike the others, noticeably protrudes from the masonry. They say this is the same one that the Official promised to lay in honor of the skilled Master. Consequently, he escaped the promised punishment.

The Great Wall of China is the longest cemetery in the world

But even without any punishment, so many people died during the construction of the Wall that this place began to be called “the most long cemetery in the world." The entire construction route was covered with the bones of the dead. In total, experts say, there are about half a million of them. The reason was poor working conditions.

According to legend, she tried to save one of these unfortunate people loving wife. She hurried to him with warm clothes for the winter. Having learned on the spot about the death of her husband, Meng - that was the woman’s name - began to cry bitterly, and from the profuse tears her part of the wall collapsed. And then the emperor himself intervened. Either he was afraid that the whole Wall would crawl from the woman’s tears, or he liked the widow, beautiful in her sadness, - in a word, he ordered to take her to his palace.

And she seemed to agree at first, but it turned out only in order to be able to bury her husband with dignity. And then faithful Meng committed suicide by throwing herself into a stormy stream... And how many more such deaths have happened? However, is there a record of victims when great state affairs are accomplished...

And there was no doubt that such a “fence” was an object of great national importance. According to historians, the wall not only protected the great “Celestial Middle Empire” from nomads, but rather guarded the Chinese themselves so that they would not flee from their dear fatherland... They say that the greatest Chinese traveler Xuanzang had to climb over the wall, stealthily, in the middle of the night, under a hail of arrows from the border guards...

The history of the Great Wall of China (in short - VKS) goes back more than two thousand years. The Great Construction of China is known throughout the world. This amazing structure is not included in the official list of Ancient Wonders of the World, but is not inferior to them in popularity. Chinese architectural monument included in the list world heritage UNESCO, among tourists it is often called the eighth wonder of the world. The construction of the protective structure was accompanied by the death of hundreds of people, huge financial expenses, and the birth of numerous legends and rumors.

In what city was it built?

Length " business card» China is approximately 21 thousand kilometers. Researchers estimate this figure taking into account areas that did not survive into the 21st century. The wall is laid across a vast territory, which is why its location cannot be attributed to any one specific city.

The defensive structure conventionally divides China into two parts: south and north. The main Chinese attraction begins in the city of Jiayuguan, stretches in whimsical twists across the country right up to the waters of the Yellow Sea in Liaodong Bay and ends in the city of Shanghaiguan. Direct distance between these two points is 1900 kilometers.

One of the sections of the wall is located near the Chinese capital. Tourists coming to Beijing will have to travel only 55 kilometers - this is exactly the distance from the city where the “earth dragon” is located.

Description

The Great Wall of China is the largest ancient building, the curves of which resemble a giant snake. That is why the Chinese landmark is called the “earth dragon” or “earth snake.”

Over the centuries that have passed since the beginning of the phenomenal scale of construction, the most famous Chinese architectural object has repeatedly changed its name. The widespread name - the Great Wall of China - appeared at the end of the 19th century AD. Until this time, the building was known under the following poetic names:

• Land of Dragons;
• Revelry;
• Purple border;
• Fortress;
• Barrier.

Age

The answer to the question “Who built the Chinese Wall?” ambiguous. It is known for sure that the construction of the Great Wall of China began in the third century BC by Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

In the first decade, work on the construction of the building was carried out most actively. Subsequently, over the years, the length of the structure gradually increased; the end of construction and its beginning are separated by almost two thousand years.

Thus, the age of the unique architectural monument is approximately 23 centuries.

total length

In addition to the main branch, the giant building has many branches. According to the latest archaeological data, the Chinese Wall occupies a total of 21,196 km. For comparison, the length of the equator is 40.075 thousand kilometers.

Almost 9,000 kilometers of Chinese territory are covered by a great wall, spreading along the mountain spurs and gorges of the Yinshan ridge. This is the official length ancient building. The photo below clearly demonstrates the twists of the “earth dragon”.

Where does it take place?

The videoconferencing passes through the territories of the provinces:

• Gansu;
• Beijing;
• Liaoning;
• Shaanxi;
• Ningxia.

The structure includes numerous segments, the most famous are:

• Badaling is the site that is most popular among tourists. Located 75 kilometers northwest of the Chinese capital. You can get there from Beijing by bus or express train.
• Juyongguan is also a popular site of the longest construction, which tourists can access from the Chinese capital. Juyongguan is located in the same direction as Badaling. This section and the Chinese capital are separated by 60 kilometers.
• Shanhaiguan - the structure was erected in the 14th century AD, this section is the easternmost outpost of the great structure. Shanhaiguan, also called the first pass under heaven, is located in the northeastern part of Qinhuangdao City, open to tourists.

• Yanguan is an almost completely destroyed site; only the signal tower remains of the impressive building; The outpost has been partially reconstructed and is accessible to everyone who wants to visit it.
• Gubeika is an abandoned section of the building that will appeal to lovers of antiquities;
• Jianku is a “wild” segment of the Great Wall, which is easily accessible from Beijing. This part of the main Chinese attraction is very dangerous; visiting is recommended only for people with good physical fitness. Gianku is replete with destroyed areas, collapsing staircases, and rockfalls. Tourists who decide to visit a dangerous building should take into account that Gianka is surrounded by cliffs on all sides.
• Mutianyu is the most well-restored section of the Chinese Wall. Ideal for a leisurely stroll through the 22 watchtowers. It is from here, from a height of 8 meters, that a magnificent view of the mountain landscapes of China opens.
• Symatai is one of the dangerous segments that has survived to this day in its original form. This section is divided in two by the Symatai Reservoir. To get from one part of the wall to another you need to walk over the reservoir on a suspension bridge.
• Yanmenguan - the site was built during the Warring States period, open to tourists. Nearby there is a village with the same name, where you can get acquainted with the life of the ancient Chinese.

Thickness of the Chinese Wall

The thickness of the structure is not constant; the internal width of the main Chinese attraction varies from five to eight meters. Outer side The VKS is framed by “teeth” made of bricks. The inner wall is protected by a 0.9 meter high barrier.

Historical fact: the great width of the Chinese landmark led to the transformation of one section of the wall into a road approximately 466 miles long.

Height of historical value

The average value of this parameter is 6 meters, but in some places protective walls reach 10 meters in height.

How many bricks were used?

Scattered Chinese kingdoms that existed during the creation period single state(the period of the warring states), defensive structures were erected to protect their borders. Emperor Qin Shi Huang combined the existing walls with newly built ones.

Some of the fortifications were erected from the ground - these protective areas were the most vulnerable places of construction and have not survived to this day. Subsequently, stone blocks sprinkled with earth were used to create defensive structures.

During the Han and Ming dynasties, walls were built from stone blocks and bricks, which were joined using an adhesive composition containing:

• rice glue;
• slaked lime.

One of the myths associated with the Chinese landmark claims that the glue is not made from rice, but from ground human bones. Actually this is not true.

One of the sites, built during the Han Dynasty, is made of wood and consists of half a dozen layers of logs, between which there is a thin layer of stone chips.

The videoconferencing segments that were built from bricks turned out to be least susceptible to the influence of time. By the 21st century AD, more than 74% of the total size of the architectural miracle was seriously damaged, and only about 8% of the fortress walls remained in their original condition.

The Great Chinese Landmark is a very long structure. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to accurately answer the question “how many bricks were used.”

There is a legend associated with the construction of the Jiayu crossing in the Badaling section. One of the craftsmen working on the great construction site argued with the official. The master claimed that he could easily determine how many bricks were needed to build the object. The number named by the master was equal to 99.999 thousand brick blocks.

When the construction of the crossing was completed, one “extra” brick block was presented to the officials. The master said that everything was correct - according to his calculations, this brick should have been placed above the entrance to the tower to attract good luck to everyone who passed under it.

Story

The construction of the VKS began three hundred years BC. The completion of the largest construction project in human history took place on end of XVII century.

In the first 10 years, the construction of the defensive structure was carried out especially actively. The attraction was built on a mountainous area, organically fitting into the landscape. The building has many branches; in some areas the walls duplicate each other, arranged in rows. This feature is clearly visible in the picture below.

What divides

Facts show that in the 21st century the VKS does not separate anything - it intricately meanders across the country’s territory, but does not pass along its borders.

Reasons for construction

The initial purpose of the construction of the monumental structure was to protect ancient China from raids by invaders from Mongolia and Manchuria. In addition to the fact that the building protected the country from nomadic peoples, it played another role - it fixed the state border.

There is a legend that answers the question: “Why was the Great Wall of China built?” Tradition tells that a court soothsayer predicted the end of the existence of the Chinese state when the country would be destroyed by northern nomads.

After the emperor decided to build a wall, a dragon appeared to him and left his mark on the surface of the earth. It was ordered to follow this mark construction works.

Who participated in the construction

During the ten-year period, when the size of the wall was actively growing, a fifth of the entire population of the country was directed to the construction of the defensive structure. The Chinese Wall was built by about 300 thousand people, later this figure grew to two million.

The following were involved in the construction:

• slaves;
• soldiers;
• peasants.

In the last decade, a myth has spread in our country saying that the gigantic architectural monument was actually built not by the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire, but by... Russians. In response to the logical question “Why?” supporters of this idea answer: “So that the wall protects from the Chinese.”

History is written by the winners and real historical facts may differ from the information that has reached the modern world. However, the map clearly shows that Mongolia was located between Ancient China and the Slavic territories.

Another fact is that the myth about the Slavic origin of the building looks unconvincing - all the surviving ancient inscriptions on the tablets are made using hieroglyphs.

How many people died during construction

Difficult working conditions, irregular supplies of water and food led to deaths during construction great amount of people. According to rough estimates total number the death toll is approximately half a million Chinese.

The wall, stretching for many thousands of miles, is called the longest cemetery on our planet, starting in Hebei province and ending at the border of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Gansu province.

Many tourists believe that when visiting the VKS you can see the skeletons of people who were walled up alive in a structure under construction. Studies of the building using magnetometers did not yield any results - no mass graves were discovered. However, the wall extends for many kilometers and not all of them have been surveyed. There is a possibility that the mystery of large-scale human burials will be solved in the coming years.

The Chinese and the VKS

The VKS played a huge role in trade relations; a busy road ran through one of its sections. The initially intended purpose of the building - defensive - did not justify itself:

• undeveloped areas could not impede the advance of enemies;
• the height was insufficient to fully protect the area from raids;
• its enormous length and lack of sufficient human resources did not allow the deployment of troops along its entire length.

Despite the fact that the wall extends for thousands of kilometers, it turned out to be useless in defensive terms. Chinese scientists say: “A wall is a sign of weakness.”

The architectural miracle looks amazing, leaving an indelible impression on tourists. At the time of its construction, the practice of mass forced conscription for construction work was introduced in the country. This policy caused dissatisfaction ordinary people, which often developed into uprisings. During the last of them, the Ming Dynasty ceased to exist, and at the same time the gigantic construction project was stopped.

Modern Chinese are proud of the huge structure, calling it a symbol of the resilience and greatness of their country. In certain areas of the building there are monuments with the saying of the founder of the Chinese People's Republic(briefly - PRC) Mao Zedong: “If you have not been to the Great Wall of China, you cannot be called a real Chinese.”

Wall restoration

The impact of time has had a detrimental effect on the condition of the fortress walls; most of the sections have been destroyed almost to the ground. The exception was the Badaling site - during the Qing period, the so-called “gate to Beijing” was located here.

In the 19th century, an unfounded rumor was launched through American newspapers about the alleged demolition of a historical landmark and the construction of a highway instead.

In the second half of the 20th century, Deng Xiaoping initiated restoration work, which was financed by:

• private individuals;
• Chinese companies;
• foreign investors.

It is impossible to completely restore the largest archaeological site on our planet. Many areas are rapidly being destroyed not only due to climate impacts, but also as a result of human activity:

• residential areas are being built;
• roads and railways are being laid;
• agricultural work is actively carried out;
• Vandals are often found among tourists.

According to researchers' forecasts, unrestored sections of the barrier structure will no longer be visible on earth's surface in the next two decades. The most rapid destruction is observed in Gansu province - on a site built during the Han Dynasty.

Is the wall visible from space?

Most researchers agree that the gigantic building is not visible either from the Earth’s orbit or from the Moon.

View from Earth orbit

Some astronauts have reported seeing the Wall of China from space. As evidence, photographs were presented in which a sinuous line was visible. However, it was later proven that the photo depicted one of the rivers.

Chinese-American astronaut Leroy Chiao photographed the structure from aboard the ISS. The photo is accompanied by the comment: “The wall can be seen under ideal weather conditions, knowledge of its location and the presence of a good camera.”

View from the Moon

It is even more impossible to see an architectural miracle from a satellite of our planet. Human vision allows us to see from a satellite on the earth's surface only an object contrasting with the background, the width of which is more than ten kilometers.

Among network users there are people who claim that they were able to find VKS using the popular search service Google maps. This is true. The capabilities of Google Maps allow us to examine in sufficient detail the wall and its towers, which are located from each other at an arrow flight distance (200 meters).

Wall on the map

The Chinese Wall on the map is indicated by multi-colored lines: a separate color for each era.

Fun Fact: The Great Chinese Landmark is a collection of various walls, some of which are not even connected to each other. The picture clearly shows that some sections of the structure are parallel to each other, while others are almost closed in a ring.

On the Internet, fans of sensations suggest: “The wall is not ancient at all, it was specially built to attract tourists.” This hypothesis has no scientific basis, but the secret of the greatest construction project in the history of mankind has not yet been fully revealed.

Legends

The most interesting legend related to a woman named Meng Jiangnu. Her husband was called to the “construction site of the century” and she came to visit him. When the woman reached the place, her beloved was no longer alive - he died during construction and was buried under the Great Wall.

Meng Jiangnu was beside herself with grief and began to cry bitterly. The building shook and partially collapsed. At the site of the collapse, the widow found the body of her husband, which she took and buried.

Another legend is known as the “Wall of Tears.” Emperor Qin Shi Huang received a prediction that the wall would be successfully built only if he immured a person named Wang in it. This man was found, killed and buried upright. The same fate, according to legend, befell all those who died during the construction of the monumental structure, so that their souls would forever guard the borders of the Celestial Country.

Interesting Facts

• The Chinese Wall is not a single structure;
• The loopholes are directed in two directions, why this was done remains a mystery;
• There is no mention of the eighth wonder of the world in documents from the beginning of the 20th century.

Conclusion

The Chinese Wall is a symbol of modern China, known everywhere. Scientists and archaeologists ask many questions about the reasons for the construction of this structure with bizarre curves of walls running up steep mountain spurs and descending into deep gorges. The architectural miracle still keeps its secrets and is in no hurry to share them with researchers.