The Great Wall is a famous landmark in China.
The Great Wall is not one continuous wall built at one time. It is a vast defensive system of walls, ramparts, trenches, passes and watchtowers constructed by successive Chinese states and dynasties. Some early fortifications date to the 7th century BC, while the Qin dynasty connected earlier sections after Qin Shi Huang unified China in the 3rd century BC.
The best-preserved and most familiar sections were built or rebuilt during the Ming dynasty, from 1368 to 1644. They protected northern approaches, supported troop movements and used beacon fires or smoke signals to communicate warnings. Materials varied by terrain: builders used rammed earth and local stone in many areas, while Ming sections often used bricks.
The name can cause confusion because the wall system extends across a huge historical frontier rather than tracing a single modern border. It also was not designed solely to stop every invasion; it helped regulate movement, trade and military access. The Great Wall became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.