The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is an Old fortification built and rebuilt between the V century a. C. and the sixteenth century to protect the northern border of the Chinese empire during the successive imperial dynasties from attacks by the nomadic Xiongnu of Mongolia and Manchuria.

Counting its ramifications and secondary buildings, is estimated to have 8851.8 km long, from the Korean border at the Yalu River border to the Gobi desert along an arc that approximately delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, although to this day is only preserved 30% of it. On average, measured from 6 to 7 feet high and 4 to 5 meters wide. In its apogee Ming, was guarded by more than a million warriors.

The wall was named a World Heritage Humanity by UNESCO in 1987. Much of the Great Wall is reputed to be the largest cemetery in the world. Approximately 10 million workers died during construction. They are not buried in the wall itself, but nearby.

On July 7, 2007 was announced that the Great Wall of China was chosen as a winner in the list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Is twinned with the Roman walls of Lugo, Galicia, Spain, also a world heritage site.