The Great Wall of China essay

Stretching from the northern mountains of China to the northwest of Beijing, the Great Wall stands 25 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Initially, the wall was 5,000 kilometers long before it was expanded by the Ming Dynasty with over 4,000 miles and renovated to include watch towers and canons. Although it can be seen from earth’s orbit, astronauts such as Neil Armstrong, Lovell, and Jim Irwin argued against the legend that states that the Great Wall is visible from the moon (Evans 10). However, it is still one of the most attractive and eye-catching attractions in the world due to its historical significance and architectural grandeur. The Great Wall stretches across several dynasties/ states, and thus, it was billed by different stats with the aim of protecting their territorial borders.

The walls stood six feet high with crenels, loopholes and parapet walls standing 4 feet high. Towers are located every 500 meters to allow the military to shoot arrows at the attackers, while the fortresses were built at vulnerable access points, with many archery windows. The gatehouses of the fortress were the most impervious and strongest structures of the Great Wall. Given the nature of the building materials, it is believed that it was light brown in color when it was constructed but got eroded over time to obtain its modern-day characteristic dirty dark brown color and whitish grey on some other parts (Evan 28). By the 8th century, the Chinese had begun to construct walls to strengthen their borders. The ruins of the Great Wall and its watchtowers and fortresses remind us of the rich Chinese culture, determined resistance, national pride and extravagant art and architecture.

Today, there are many poems, paintings, operas, legends and stories that have been inspired by this historical landmark. Today, the Great Wall epitomizes a culture of cultural heritage, rich history and greater openness to the outside world. The Great Wall is a potent symbol that symbolizes the unification of China as it was linked together for the first time during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Undeniably, it is a representation of Chinese ability to leave their differences aside and work together for the good of the nation. However, there are several scholars who view this monumental structure differently. Some scholars view it as a symbol of separation as it separated the dynasties from the rest of the world while others argue that it is a symbol of the struggle of the people as the construction of the wall was guided by the desires of the leaders and not people.