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Walls of Great Wall

The bodies of the Great Wall, linking beacon towers, watch towers, and passes into a defensive line, are the main part of the Great Wall. Their heights differ depending on the local terrain. In flat areas and places of military importance, the wall is built quite high. While in the steep mountains and places of less important military meaning, the wall is built comparably lower to save financial and human resources.

The Great Wall of China was built using local materials and in a manner according to the technological level of the periods. Construction was mainly rammed-earth walls, brick walls, and stone walls. Rammed-earth wall was the earliest method of wall construction. In desert terrain where suitable earth was not available, sand mixed with debris and willow branch was used as a replacement. This kind of wall is much easier to build but also easy to be destroyed by enemies and susceptible to collapsing after long periods of time.

Stone walls were made of locally found stones when walls passed through mountainous areas. Some stones were processed into necessary stone pieces and others kept their original appearance. Between stones, mortar mixed with sticky rice juice was used to securely glue them together. The wall was firm enough to bear more weight, go through natural erosion and resist any weapon's attack of the period. Badaling Great Wall was built in this way.

Great Wall Construction List:

Beacon Towers

Construction Material

Great Wall Fortifications

Great Wall Passes

Walls

Labor Force

Principle & Method

Terrain & Structure


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