The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall is a symbol of Chinese culture. In the north of China, there lies a 6,700-kilometre-long wall.  The Great Wall begins in the west of China and ends in the east. It winds its way across deserts, over mountains, through valleys till it reaches the sea.

The history of the Great Wall has over two thousand years. The first part was the Spring and Autumn Period. In the Warring Period, different kingdoms built different walls. The Qin Dynasty united different kingdoms into one country. At that time, the Grear Wall came into being.

The wall is wide enough for five horses or ten men to walk side by side. There are many watchtowers on the Great Wall. They are spaced out every. Soldiers kept watch on the watchtowers. When enemies came, a fire was lit on the watchtower and the other watchtowers nearby would also light their fires.

One sad legend about the Great Wall is about a lady called Meng Jiangnv. Her husband was recruited by local officials to build the Great Wall. After several years, she heard nothing about her husband. So she decided to look for him. When she came the Great Wall, she found her husband already dead. She cried for ten days and nights and finally her howls made a part of the Great Wall collapse. From this story, we know that the Great Wall was built not only with earth and stone, but also with the fresh and blood of Chinese people.