As the table below indicates, the Yulin Wall has a long history.
Construction started over 2,300 years ago and ended during the
Ming Dynasty. Virtually every ruling entity during those years
constructed additions to the wall.
| Dynasty |
Construction Year |
Length (miles) |
Description |
| Warring States |
Wei |
351 BC |
Over 124 |
Built from rammed earth, the foundation measures 3.3 to
4.3 yards deep. |
| Qin (King Huiwen's Rule) |
324 BC |
Over 267 |
This long section became the predecessor
to the Ming's Wall. |
| Qin (King Zhao's Rule) |
271 BC |
Unknown |
There are three sections built with rammed
earth. The foundation is 3.3 yards deep and most of the walls
disappeared because of erosion. |
| Qin Dynasty |
213 BC |
Unknown |
There are seven sections built with rammed earth. Today,
there is very little left of the wall to see. |
| Sui Dynasty |
585 |
Unknown |
Starting at the end of Qin's wall, there are two walls that
are parallel to each other. |
| Ming Dynasty |
1436 |
Unknown |
The Ming Wall was fortified with bricks and stones and new
sections of wall were added as well. |
Though
many sections of the walls are ruined through years, there are
still relics of 36 Ming castles standing lonely along the Ming
Wall, leaving us valuable practical materials to recall their
past.
In the 1520's, Dada, one of the northern ethnic minorities, became
powerful. They constantly invaded the Hetao area, a part of northern
Shaanxi. In order to drive the intruders away, the Ming Court
strengthened its frontier defenses by building walls on a large
scale.
Thirty-six castles were built to accommodate the troops stationed
there. Many sections of the border wall (or Bian Qiang) have been
in ruins throughout the years. There are, however, remnants of
the thirty-six castles standing alone along the Ming Wall. The
Ming Court anchored their hopes on these castles as one can see
from their unique names.
Chang Le Bu (Change Le Castle)

Change Le means "Endless Happiness" and was built in 1489. Much
of it has been destroyed. It is most unfortunate that stones laid
in the outer wall were dismantled by local residents to build
houses. The rammed earth north wall has collapsed, but luckily
the south wall still stands.
Jian'an Bu (Jian'an Castle)
Jian'an
means "To Build Peace" and was built in 1474 in what is today's
Yulin City. Like Chang Le, the stones and bricks of Jian'an Castle
were removed by local residents to build houses. However, the
rammed earth wall has retained most of its original appearance
unlike its counterpart at Chang Le. The east and south gates are
the only ones left.
Da
Bai Bu (Dabai Castle)
Located in Shenmu County in Shaanxi, it was built from bricks
and stones in 1607. Relics of both the west and east walls are
still linked, but the east wall is severely damaged. Today, the
castle serves at the location for a nearby primary school.
Related links :
Zhen Bei Tai
Yulin Great Wall Pictures
History of China