Beijing & environs wonders
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Lama Temple
Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven
Tiananmen Square
Hong Kong & environs
Hong Kong Harbor/Cityscape
Hong Kong Restaurants & Shops
Tian Tan Buddha Po Lin
Shanghai & environs
Bund River Front
Jade Buddha Temple
Pudong/Shanghai Skylines
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Old City
Shaanxi
Qin Terra Cotta Warriors
Wild Goose Pagodas
Xi'an City Walls
Sichuan & Chongqing
Dazu Rock Carvings
Jiuzhaigou
Leshan Great Buddha
Shibaozhai Temple
Yangtze River Cruise
Tibet
Ganden Monastery
Jokhang Temple
Mount Everest with
Nepal
Potala Palace of Lhasa
Sera Monastery
Tashilumpo Monastery
Yunnan
Baishui Terrace
Lijiang & Shangri-La
Stone Forest
Three Pagodas
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Xishuangbanna
Yuan Yang Rice Terraces
Wonders in other China regions
Chengde Mountain Resort
Hanging Monastery
Huangshan Mountain Range
Jiayuguan Fort
Kaifeng Historical Sites
Labrang Monastery
Li River Cruise
Long Ji Rice Terraces
Longmen Caves
Mogao Caves
Mount Taishan
Pingyao Ancient City
Reed Flute Cave
Sanjiang Bridges
Shenyang Imperial Palace
Shouxi Lake
Silk Road
Suzhou Gardens & Canals
Three Gorges Dam
West Lake
Wudang Ancient Complex
Wulingyuan Scenic Areas
Yangshou
Yungang Caves
My other China pages
China wonder map
China home page
Chinese phrases
Chinese cuisine
World wonders
More
Site map
About me and my credentials
About my website
Reader testimonials
Email me your opinion
Great Wall of China
page 3
Top 4 reasons
the Great Wall of China
was built
To impede
invaders
coming from the north
This worked against feeble armies. However, the wall would serve more as a psychological than a physical barrier against a determined, well-manned military force. A formidable invader could easily breach a lightly guarded part of the wall. Or, it could muscle its way through one of the gaps between the individual wall sections.
To serve as
lookout
posts
The ancient Chinese had rational fears about being invaded by nomadic armies from the north.
To provide the army
with a swift early
warning
system
Fire signals (nighttime) and smoke signals (daytime) were relayed from one watchtower to another. Messages could be rapidly sent over great distances.
To create an elevated
military roadway through
the rugged
terrain
This helped speed the deployment of soldiers from one area to another along the Great Wall of China.
Great human cost
Million
plus
Over the centuries, more than a million people (peasants, soldiers and prisoners) helped build the wall. Thousands died in the process.
for more Great Wall of China pointers
Wonders
of China - Locator map
sponsored ad
Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights
WONDERS OF ... | WONDERS OF ... | CRUISE GUIDES | SAFARI GUIDES | WORLD'S TOP WONDERS |
| ||||
| OTHER TIPS & INSIGHTS | ||||
|
| |||
SPECIAL TOPICS | MORE | |||
| ||||
|
| |||
|
| |||
|
| |||
|
| |||
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
©2012 HQP - Hillman Quality Publications / hillmanwonders.com
