How many kilometers is the Great Wall?

How many kilometers is the Great Wall? Revealing the magnificent scale of the world’s wonders and recent hot topics

As one of the most famous cultural heritage sites in China and even the world, the length of the Great Wall has always been the focus of people's attention. This article will combine authoritative data and recent (last 10 days) hot topics on the Internet to present you the true length of the Great Wall and the stories behind it in a structured form.

1. Basic data of the Great Wall

2. Recent hot topics related to the Great Wall (last 10 days)

3. Historical changes in the length of the Great Wall

The construction of the Great Wall began during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and went through construction and extension in many dynasties. The Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty is the most complete main part that still exists, but the total length of the Great Wall built in each dynasty far exceeds modern measurement data. Archaeological findings indicate that if the remains of the city walls from all historical periods are included, the total length may exceed 50,000 kilometers.

4. Progress in measurement technology

5. Comparison of the lengths of the main paragraphs of the Great Wall

6. Common misunderstandings about the length of the Great Wall

1."The Great Wall can be seen from space": In fact, it is almost invisible to the naked eye in low Earth orbit and requires professional equipment to photograph.

2."The Great Wall is a continuous wall": The real situation includes various defense systems such as city walls, trenches, and natural barriers.

3."The Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty is the entire Great Wall": In fact, it is only the best-preserved part. All dynasties in history built the Great Wall.

7. Conservation Status and Challenges

According to the latest statistics, the preservation status of the Great Wall is not optimistic: 30% is well preserved, 40% is in an endangered state, and 30% has disappeared. Natural weathering, man-made damage and tourism pressure are the three main threats. The digital protection solution that has been hotly discussed recently may become an important means in the future.

Conclusion

From the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period to the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, the construction of the Great Wall ran through China's two thousand years of history. 21,196.18 kilometers is not only a geographical scale, but also the symbolic length of Chinese civilization. Various recent discussions about the Great Wall, both in terms of conservation measures and digitization attempts, reflect the timeless appeal of this World Heritage site. Understanding the true length of the Great Wall is the first step in understanding this great project.