The numbers that create a wall thousands of kilometers long, overwhelming for future generations.
When it comes to the most iconic architectural marvel of China, most people immediately think of the Great Wall of China.
For tourists, the Great Wall is an essential stop in the journey to explore the land of China. The construction of the Wall began during the reign of Qin Shi Huang and continues to stand to this day.
A Millennia-Old Structure Still Stands Tall
The Great Wall of China was mainly built using earth and stone from the 5th century BC to the 16th century. The most famous section was ordered to be built by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, from 220 BC to 200 BC.
Historically, northern China was home to many nomadic tribes such as the Xiongnu and Mongols, who frequently invaded the Central Plains for looting and destruction. Thus, these “forces” were always a serious and persistent threat to the Han people in the Central Plains.
To ensure the safety of the populace, during the Warring States period, northern border states such as Qin, Zhao, and Yan had to construct walls to prevent these nomadic tribes from “rampaging.”
Later, when Qin Shi Huang unified China by conquering the six vassal states, he ordered the extension and connection of the walls from the three states into what we now know as the Great Wall. When he proposed this idea, many opposed him, arguing that constructing the Wall required immense financial and human resources, a price too great to pay.
A section of the Great Wall of China. (Photo: Internet).
The Great Wall stretches over 8,000 km, including both man-made walls and natural barriers. Throughout its more than 2,000 years of construction, the Great Wall has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous Chinese dynasties.
In 1987, UNESCO recognized the Great Wall of China as a World Heritage Site. After two millennia, this monumental structure still stands majestically as a loyal sentinel, witnessing the ebbs and flows of Chinese history.
Staggering Costs of Building the Great Wall
In the face of such a colossal structure that has endured across centuries, many may wonder about the immense costs of its construction. Converted into modern currency, what would that amount to?
According to QQ, the average height of the Great Wall is 7.8 meters, with a base width of 6.5 meters. Essentially, this structure was built using green bricks and gray mortar.
It is estimated that approximately 6,000 green bricks and 7 cubic meters of gray mortar are needed to construct one meter of the Wall. Each green brick costs 4 RMB, while one cubic meter of mortar costs around 400 RMB. The costs for machinery and management amount to approximately 2,000 RMB, along with labor costs estimated at around 30,000 RMB.
The meticulously invested project. (Photo: Internet).
Thus, the average cost to build one meter of the Great Wall is about 60,000 RMB. Specifically, the cost to construct the Wall, which spans over 6,000 km, has exceeded 360 billion RMB.
Additionally, the Great Wall features a total of 60,000 watchtowers, which adds up to a significant expense. Each watchtower costs about 200,000 RMB, making the total for 60,000 watchtowers approximately 12 billion RMB. Moreover, Qin Shi Huang invested in key routes like Shanhai Pass and Jiayuguan, which are estimated to have cost nearly 100 billion RMB.
In total, the entire Great Wall is estimated to have cost around 472 billion RMB (approximately 68.6 billion USD). In today’s terms, this amount is sufficient to fund a mega project. To put this into perspective, the recent “super moon” project in Dubai cost about 5 million USD. Clearly, the cost to build the Great Wall is 13 times greater than that of the project in Dubai.
However, this may not be the final accurate figure. According to a survey published by the Chinese Cultural Heritage Bureau in April 2018, the Great Wall begins at Jiayuguan in Gansu province in the west and ends in Liaoning. This structure passes through 156 districts across 11 provinces in China, with a total length of 8,851.8 km.
With this figure, many experts believe that it would take around 1 trillion RMB to construct the Great Wall as it stands today.
