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Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China
Image via Wikimedia Commons

About Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications in China. They were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. The first walls date to the 7th century BC; these were joined together in the Qin dynasty. Successive dynasties expanded the wall system; the best-known sections were built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).

On the show · 63 mentions total

The Great Wall's mortar was made using sticky rice, cooked to extract its starch and then mixed with lime.

from 90: No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · read transcript

More facts about Great Wall of China

  1. The sticky-rice mortar is in the Ming dynasty section of the wall, the fancy towered part you see in photos, not the earthen mounds.

    No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

  2. A recent measurement found the Great Wall of China is about three times longer than previously thought.

    No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

  3. The Great Wall is not actually one wall but lots of different walls.

    90: No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

  4. The first person thought to have walked the complete Great Wall of China was an American adventurer.

    90: No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

  5. To combat people graffitiing the Great Wall, authorities created an official section where visitors are allowed to draw what they like.

    90: No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

  6. Ironically, the Great Wall was designed to keep people out but is now one of China's biggest tourist attractions, drawing millions a year.

    No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

  7. The idea that the Great Wall of China can be seen from space is a myth.

    90: No Such Thing As The Brilliant Billion · listen

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Coordinates: 40.4319, 116.5704

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