How old is the Great Wall?
As a world cultural heritage and a symbol of the Chinese nation, the Great Wall's historical origins have always been the focus of people's attention. In recent years, topics about the history, protection and cultural value of the Great Wall have repeatedly become hot spots on the Internet. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to explain the history of the Great Wall in detail in the form of structured data.
1. Historical background of the Great Wall
The Great Wall is a military defense project built in ancient China to resist the invasion of northern nomads. Its history can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty. The following is a timeline of the construction of the Great Wall during its major dynasties:
| dynasty | Construction time | Main contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Western Zhou Dynasty | About 7th century BC | The earliest beacon tower and prototype of city wall |
| Qin Dynasty | 214 BC | Connecting the city walls of various countries to form the Great Wall |
| Han Dynasty | 2nd century BC - 1st century AD | Extending westward to the Hexi Corridor |
| Ming Dynasty | 1368-1644 | Large-scale reconstruction to form the existing main body |
2. The latest research data on the Great Wall
According to the latest data released by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage in 2023, the total length and distribution of the Great Wall are as follows:
| Province/Region | Length (km) | Preservation status |
|---|---|---|
| Hebei Province | 2003.6 | better |
| Shanxi Province | 896.5 | Average |
| Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region | 7570 | Poor |
| Shaanxi Province | 1838 | better |
| Gansu Province | 1738 | Average |
3. Hot topics on the Internet
In the past 10 days, hot topics about the Great Wall have mainly focused on the following aspects:
1.New measures to protect the Great Wall: The Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage announced that it will invest 560 million yuan in the repair and protection of key sections of the Great Wall, triggering discussions among netizens on the protection of cultural heritage.
2.Great Wall Tourism Big Data: During the National Day holiday, the Badaling Great Wall received more than 60,000 tourists in a single day, and the number of visitors to the Mutianyu Great Wall increased by 45% year-on-year.
3.New archaeological discoveries at the Great Wall: The ruins of a Ming Dynasty barracks were discovered in the Chengde section of the Great Wall in Hebei Province, and more than 200 cultural relics were unearthed, providing new materials for the study of the Ming Dynasty's military defense system.
4.Great Wall Cultural Creativity: A number of digital collections with the theme of the Great Wall are selling well on major platforms, and the integration of traditional culture and modern technology has become a new hot spot.
4. Calculation of the age of the Great Wall
To accurately answer the question "How old is the Great Wall?" several key factors need to be considered:
| Calculation method | starting point | Time since now |
|---|---|---|
| The earliest city wall | Western Zhou Dynasty (about 7th century BC) | About 2700 |
| Unify the Great Wall | Qin Dynasty (214 BC) | About 2237 years |
| existing subject | Ming Dynasty (1368) | 655 years |
5. Expert opinions
Dong Yaohui, vice president of the Great Wall Society of China, said: "The Great Wall is not the product of a single era, but a great project that the Chinese nation has continuously built and improved for more than two thousand years. From the beacons of the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, it has witnessed the continuation and development of Chinese civilization."
Lu Zhou, a professor at the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, pointed out: "The calculation of the age of the Great Wall should adopt a multi-level expression, which should not only recognize its long history, but also distinguish the architectural characteristics and protection status of different periods."
6. Conclusion
With a history spanning more than two thousand years, the Great Wall is one of the greatest architectural projects in the world. From its original military defense function to today's cultural symbol, the Great Wall carries the wisdom and spirit of the Chinese nation. As conservation efforts increase and research deepens, our understanding of this great building will continue to be updated.
No matter which point in time, the Great Wall has gone through a long time. It is not only the pride of China, but also the common cultural heritage of all mankind. In the new era, we must continue to inherit the spirit of the Great Wall and protect this precious historical gift.
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