How long is the Great Wall of China?
Great Wall of China
21,196km
The frontier walls built by different dynasties have multiple courses. Collectively, they stretch from Dandong in the east to Lop Lake in the west, from present-day Sino-Russian border in the north to Qinghai in the south; along an arc that roughly delineates the edge of Mongolian steppe. A comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has concluded that the walls built by the Ming dynasty measure 8,850km (5,500mi).[4] This is made up of 6,259km (3,889mi) sections of actual wall, 359km (223mi) of trenches and 2,232km (1,387mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.[4] Another archaeological survey found that the entire wall with all of its branches measures out to be 21,196km (13,171mi).[5] Today, the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.[6]