In c. 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defence system against invasions from the north. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), when the Great Wall became the world's largest military structure. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Great Wall
The monumental defence system across northern China.
Collections featuring The Great Wall
More UNESCO sites in China
- Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
- Ancient City of Ping Yao
- Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun
- Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City
- Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes
- Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
- Chengjiang Fossil Site