Defensive Wall Structure of China Great Wall

The walls are the main bodies of the China Great Wall, linking beacon towers and passes into a continuous defensive line. They mainly consist of battlement, parapet and barrier walls, horse ramps and other parts to block invaders and protect soldiers during the battles.
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Great Wall of China


Their heights differ depending on the surrounding terrain. In flat areas and places of military importance, it was built quite high. While in the steep mountains and places of less military importance, it was built comparably lower to save financial and human resources. On average, they vary from 6 to 7 meters (20 to 23 feet) in height from top to bottom.
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How tall is the China Great Wall?
How wide is it? 
 

Battlement Wall

It was built on the outer side with a width of 40-50 cm (15.7-19.7 in) and a height of about 2 meters (6.6 feet). On it are crenels and holes to shoot and watch enemies. On some sections, there are also stone missile holes on the battlement wall, used to release rolling logs and stone missiles against the enemies. The walls between the crenels are about 1.5-1.6 meters (1.6-1.7 yards) to provide cover for two soldiers during battles.

Defensive Wall Structure of Great Wall
Defensive Wall Structure
Battlement Wall of Great Wall
Battlement Wall

Parapet Wall

In Chinese, it is called Nuqiang or Yuqiang, literally translated as "Women's Wall", to indicate that it is low enough to allow a woman to climb over. It was built on the inner side to ensure the safety of soldiers and horses on the Great Wall, often 1 meter (3.3 feet) high.
 

Single Wall

As the name suggests, it was built only on one side. It was usually a thin wall built on extremely steep mountain slopes. In this area, the regular way of building a double-sided wall is impossible. The lofty peaks serve as natural barriers on the other side. The height varies according to the terrain, often measuring 2-3.5 meters (6.6-11.5 feet) tall. A famous and steep single wall is located at Simatai Great Wall in Beijing.

Single Wall of Great Wall
Single Wall
Barrier Wall
Barrier Wall

Barrier Wall

It is built perpendicular to the battlement walls, also called Obstacle Wall or Walls-within-Walls. When the enemies got into the wall, allied soldiers could use barrier walls to provide cover for themselves during the fight.
 

Top Surface of the Walls

It was usually 4-5 meters (4.4-5.5 yards) wide, enough to allow 10 soldiers to walk and 10 horses to gallop shoulder by shoulder. In the flat areas, it was paved with 3 or 4 layers of square bricks and the gaps were filled with lime, so grass could not grow to damage the floor. In steep areas, rectangular stones were used to build stairs instead of a flat floor. 
 

Horse Ramp

Also called Bridle Path, it was usually laid beside the gate tower to lead people and horses to the top of the wall from ground. It measures about 5-6 meters (5.5-6.6 yards) wide. A parapet wall serving as railing was built on one side of it. The incline is 30 degrees and the bricks were placed with their lateral surfaces upside to provide anti-slip.

Horse Ramp of Great Wall
Horse Ramp
Quanmen of Great Wall
Quanmen Gate

Quanmen Gate

Usually on the inner side of the Great Wall, at regular intervals, there are arched doors. When war was coming, soldiers stationed under the walls could pass through these doors to the top of the wall to fight.
 

 

Drainage System

To drain water from the Great Wall, workers built barrel drains at certain intervals. Rain water could be drained to the outside through the mouth of the barrel drains which extended out from the wall about 1 meter (1.1 yards). The drainage system has protected the wall from the erosion of rain water over a long period of time.

Brick Wall with Drain
Drain Ditch on the Wall
Water Spout on the Great Wall of China
Water Spout



 Further Reading:

 How was the Great Wall of China defended?

 Beacon Towers

 Great Wall Passes

 Wall Structure of Great Wall

- Last updated on Jan. 16, 2024 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on Defensive Wall Structure of China Great Wall
Asked by Bob from AUSTRALIA | Apr. 05, 2016 07:06Reply
What would be the most effective method of building the Great Wall?
Answers (1)
Answered by Eddie from SPAIN | Apr. 05, 2016 19:51
121Reply


The Wall was often built along the mountain ridges for a better defense. Without advanced technology like today, bricks used to build the Wall were carried by labors and ox carts from the foot of the mountain, which cost a great manpower and money. A lot of labors died because of the heavy work load.
Asked by Andy Chen from CANADA | Nov. 02, 2015 20:21Reply
Why is Great Wall so strong?
What is the science behind its resistance to force? Are the size factors and weight affecting its strength?
Answers (1)
Answered by Rick from SINGAPORE | Nov. 03, 2015 03:00
144Reply


Andy, I think it's the materials used to build the wall make the wall so strong. At the beginning, rammed earth was used to build the wall. It was noncombustible, strong and durable. Today, you still can see the wathtower built during the Han Dynasty along the Silk Road. However, it was as strong as bricks.

During the Ming Dynasty, bricks became the main material. Lime mar and sticky rice juice were also used as cementation materials. That's why Ming walls are still preserved well till now.
Asked by Springy1245 from AUSTRALIA | Jun. 12, 2015 00:00Reply
What problems are the great wall of china facing today?
Answers (1)
Answered by Alex | Jun. 12, 2015 00:58
54Reply


Some of the sections are in danger lack of proper protection, expecially those in northwest China like Shandan, Zhangye, etc.
Asked by Person from USA | Mar. 12, 2015 10:10Reply
what time period did construction end for the wall?
Answers (1)
Answered by Peter from SAN MARINO | Mar. 12, 2015 22:20
109Reply


The wall was firstly built in 656 BC. Then Emperor Qinshihuang order to build the wall massively during his reign. In later dynasties, especially during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 AD) the wall was expanded. However, the construction and expansion of the wall almost stopped during the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, you can conclude that the construction ended in the Ming Dynasty. In total, the construction lasts more than 2000 years.
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