In the year 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shihuang defeated all his enemies and unified China for the first time in its history. During his reign, the Huns from the north were a constant threat, often coming down to the Yellow River Basin and taking land from people in the Hetao Area, located at the top of the Great Bend of the Yellow River in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. To protect his people and safeguard his political power, the Emperor ordered General Meng Tian, commanding 300,000 soldiers, to defeat the enemy force. To prevent further attacks by the Huns, he decided to consolidate and extend the Great Wall of China.
Many people believed that it was Emperor Qin Shihuang who first built the Great Wall. But research showed that before Qin's Great Wall, the six ducal states had already built their own walls to prevent attacks from each other and the Huns. Qin's Great Wall was built by connecting parts of the walls belonging to the past ducal states Qin, Zhao and Yan, plus adding several thousand miles of its own. The Great Wall of Qin resembled a gigantic dragon, extending from Lintao in the west to Liaodong in the east. Thus it was named 'Wanli Changcheng' (Ten Thousand Li Great Wall).
Generally speaking, Qin's Great Wall can be divided into three sections: western, middle and eastern. The western section started from the present Min County in Gansu Province, winding its way to Inner Mongolia via Guyuan County in Gansu Province; Jingbian, Yulin, Shenmu in Shaanxi Province; ending at the south bank of the Yellow River. The middle section started from Xinghe County in Inner Mongolia, winding its way to the north border of Wulanbuhe desert by way of Daqingshan Mountain, Guyuan County, Yinshan Mountain and the Yellow River. This part of the Great Wall was built mainly by using rubbles left from existing walls. The eastern section started from Huade County, Inner Mongolia, through Hebei Province, ending in Fuxin City in Liaoning Province. This part of the wall was built on the foundation of the ruins of Yan Dynasty walls.
It took about nine years to finish this grand project. The construction of the Qin Great Wall took many lives and a great deal of money and materials. From a historical aspect, during Qin Shihuang's rule, the Great Wall had served its role as a defensive force to protect people from wars and ensured them a peaceful and stable society.
Related Link : Qin Dynasty
Copyright© 1998-2009 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.
Travelers' Voices on Qin Dynasty Great Wall
1.
Jun. 9,2009 03:48 Reply
Ms.mad(Australia) said:
i know that millions of people died while building the great wall of china, But how did they die? did they fall off? did stones and bolders fall on them? or what and are they buired underneath the wall??
Jun. 10,2009 04:37
Mr.Lemon replied:
There is no detailed records on how the people died of the wall, but I think the way you described may all exist, for building the wall indeed is a tough work!
Jun. 11,2009 02:00
Mr.Jaylen (USA) replied:
they probley had heat strokes and i`m sure soldiers torcherd them. it was a bad time during ancient china. they dont have exact records
Jun. 23,2009 11:49
Mr.tristan(australia) replied:
i believe most were slavs who were forced to work horrendous hours in poor conditions. historians estimate 8million lives were lost in building the Great Wall.
2.
May. 13,2009 11:48 Reply
Ms.Kass(US) said:
I am doing a project and I would love to know more information if you could?
May. 15,2009 04:29
Mr.yesyes replied:
What's the exact information you want to know, please tell, if you cannot find at this page:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/
3.
May. 14,2009 12:43 Reply
Mr.connolly(canada) said:
must have been a great big wall eh how many slaves died building it though think about that one
May. 15,2009 03:20
Mr.Wang(China) replied:
Hi, I just know countless people died of building the wall, because nobody knows the accurate number. Building the Great Wall is a hard work, yes millions of people died of building the wall.
4.
May. 12,2009 07:51 Reply
Ms.aryannah.jones.(u.s.a) said:
what else..did they do tha effected the economy.
May. 13,2009 03:33
Ms.EVA replied:
The China Great Wall played a postive role to the economic development in ancient China. It protected the land and people to the south of the wall from being attacked by the ancient northern nomadic tribes, in this way to assure a comparatively peaceful environment to the economic grow and the development of productive forces of ancient China.
5.
Apr. 27,2009 12:52 Reply
Mr.Hi(USA) said:
how long did shi's sons rule
Apr. 28,2009 04:03
Mr.Wang replied:
Only four years, from 210BC to 206BC. Qin Dynasty lasted for 15 years. It is a short dynasty in Chinese history.
6.
Apr. 7,2009 09:04 Reply
Mr.bob(U-S-A) said:
when was the great wall built? im doing a project
Apr. 8,2009 03:13
Ms.fally(australia) replied:
well im not sur when it was built but it is over 2000 years old!!!!!!!!!! cool hah
Apr. 8,2009 22:54
Mr.dzhoyan(China) replied:
Before Qin Danasty(established in 221 BC),there were a lot of vassals in Zhou Danasty.To prevent the enemies from north,some vassals started to build the Greatwall separately.The time was about 500 BC.When Qin Danasty was established,the First Emperor of Qin Danasty ,mobilized more than 1 million people to join these defensive walls together.
7.
Jan. 13,2009 10:23 Reply
Ms.dfuiofnhkc(fgregdrg) said:
wat was there climate
Mar. 8,2009 14:57
Mr.Mr replied:
it was slightlt cloudy most of the time and a bit chilly
8.
Mar. 2,2009 07:56 Reply
Ms.Person said:
Please reply, I need this information ASAP.
Who actually was the artist of the Great Wall?
Mar. 2,2009 20:21
Mr.Wall-E(USA) replied:
Artist? I think you mean the designer? It is the Emperor Qin Shihuang.
9.
Mar. 1,2009 14:21 Reply
Ms.Me said:
I thought it was the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, not Shihuang in the first sentence. Other than that, this gives me enough info to finish my project =) Thanks!!!
Mar. 2,2009 07:59
Mr.Man replied:
no, I think the article is correct
10.
Dec. 16,2008 08:15 Reply
Mrs.elenna(usa) said:
i thought that the great wall of qin was something that qin took charge of and forced other people to help biuld it.
Jan. 18,2009 02:54
Mrs.flower(-) replied:
no it is not.it is the qin king who is willing to help to bulid one
Feb. 5,2009 09:17
Mrs.vaughan(alanta) replied:
how did he faught his enemies by himself