The Great Wall of China

by Encheng Zhuo, age 10

The Great Wall of China runs through Beijing and extends into the Gobi Desert. It is a historical site to China, and the longest man made structure in the world.

The Wall was not easy to build, as many workers who died were buried inside the cement walls. According to legend, a “Wizard” told Qin Shihuangdi to bury wan, or 10,000, bodies in the Wall. The emperor misinterpreted and killed a man named Wan, and buried his body in the Wall instead. It is estimated to have been under construction for over 2,000 years with Qin Shihuangdi commanding over 300,000 workers.

Back then, the wall was constructed as a way to protect China from neighboring threats. An official measurement of the Wall is said to be 3,946 miles. However, in 1990 the distance was reported to be more than anticipated. A Chinese walker reported from his pedometer that the distance was 4,163 miles.

The Great Wall of China stands as a remarkable historical site for people to visit. In fact, it is one of the Wonders of the World. If you ever get a chance to visit China, it is definitely a site to see!

[Source: 100 Great Wonders of the world]