The Great Wall of China is actually more than twice as long as previously reported, with a surveying team discovering numerous sections within this complex structure.
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The Telegraph reports that contrary to long-held beliefs, the Great Wall of China is not a single continuous wall but rather a series of overlapping defensive structures built over nearly 2,000 years, with many sections consisting of parallel walls.
The Great Wall of China
Beginning in 2007, a team of Chinese surveyors traveled across 15 provinces to measure the wall sections they discovered. A total of 43,721 heritage points belonging to the Great Wall have been confirmed nationwide during this survey.
“21,199 km is the total length of the wall sections that have been constructed, although they may not be entirely intact,” stated Dong Yaohui, Deputy Director of the Great Wall Association of China.
Previously, the length of this world wonder was reported to be approximately 8,850 km, with the gray walls built during the Ming Dynasty being among the most famous tourist attractions in China. However, according to Tong Mingkang from the National Cultural Heritage Administration, only 8.2% of this wall section remains intact, while the rest is in a state of deterioration. Many other parts of the Great Wall are currently fragmented and abandoned.
The Great Wall was initially constructed during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and continued to be expanded over many centuries through 13 different dynasties. UNESCO recognized this structure as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The effort to map all branches of the Great Wall is part of an initiative to preserve this historical architectural marvel.
