History, Books and My Personal Experience about the Great Wall of China
The first time I learned about the Great Wall of China, I was in fourth grade, flipping through the worn-out encyclopedia in my school library. The image that struck through me was a stone path winding through the green mountains, stretching endlessly into the mist.
It looks straight out of a fantasy novel, majestic, full of mystery, a beautiful creation, and incredibly long. That’s when I decided that one day I was going to see the Great Wall of China.
Years later, standing on that very wall, the wind blowing on my face and centuries beneath my feet, I can see why the Great Wall of China is not just a wall. Instead, it is an experience rooted in history, books, and culture.
Today, I will share with you my personal experience about the Great Wall of China and what I felt.
Often misinterpreted, the Great Wall of China is not a single continuous structure. Instead, it is a series of fortifications which are built over the years by the Chinese Dynasties.
The research suggests that it took over more than 2,000 years for the Great Wall of China to look the way it is today.
The main purpose of this wall was to protect China from the attacks of the nomadic tribes like the Mongols and the Xiongnu, especially from the North.
Furthermore, the earliest version of the wall dates back to the 7th Century BC during the Warring States period.
However, it was Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the unified China, who ordered the connection of the existing walls and extended them to create a single defensive line in (221-206 BC)
This set the framework, which later became the Great Wall of China.
Most of the walls that tourists often visit were constructed completely in the period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
This version is solid, made from stones, bricks, and watch towers.
Do you know what the most popular myth about the Great Wall of China is?
Well, you can see its structure from the Moon.
But that’s wrong!
However, this wall is surely one of China’s biggest defensive military strategies. In 2025, the Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top tourist site in the world.
Here are some incredible fun facts about the Great Wall of China:
According to Google Arts and Culture, the entire system of fortifications stretches for over 21,196 kilometers (13,171 miles)
Various materials, including bricks and stones, were used to create this wall.
An ancient tale of love revolving around the legend of Lady Mengjiang is quite popular.
Since childhood, I have been a big history and stories lover. And the Great Wall of China is one of those fascinations.
Growing up, I came across the wall of China through various literature and books.
The book that inspired me most was The Great Wall: China Against the World, 2006, by Julia Lovell.
What’s so special about this?
Well, it challenges the few myths surrounding the walls, created by both the Chinese emperors and the world.
Other books include:
“The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth" by Arthur Waldron
“The Great Wall of China" by William Lindesay
What’s so interesting to me is that the wall was not always for defending. Instead, initially, it was the symbol of strength, fear, and separation.
Even the Chinese folklore shares the haunting stories about this wall. One of the stories that stood out to me was about the legend of Lady Mengjiang, who discovered that her husband, one of the builders, had died while constructing the wall.
Some people say that when the Lady wept, the part of the wall collapsed. This suggests that the human sacrifice was a precursor to this architecture.
From the babbling about the Great Wall of China, you can see my love for this wall. After years of waiting, my first personal experience happened last year on a crisp November evening during my solo trip to China.
I chose to explore the Mutyania section, which is quiet because of fewer tourist experiences. Furthermore, it has lush, green forests surrounding it.
Climbing the steep stones, one thing I can say for sure is that the photographs can’t capture its beauty and full story.
The Wall is not that smooth or steady.
Instead, it has some knee-high steps while others are barely slanted. The higher I climbed, the quieter it got, except for the occasional gust of wind and shutter of Cameras.
I stopped at Watchtower 20, one of the highest points in the Mutianyu area, and looked out across the jagged hills.
The feeling? I can’t explain. There was a surreal sense of scale. And I am not talking about physical, but also temporal.
Also, when you see the wall, you will get to know that its structure is built and rebuilt over time. Empires rose and fell, generations passed, and yet this Wall is still here.
Honestly, I felt tiny in the best possible way.
What moved me was not its architecture, but the silence that I can still hear. It was not empty, it was full.
Meaning?
Well, full of footsteps, battles, whispers, and secrets. I can imagine soldiers lighting signal fires to warn of invaders, picturing villagers forced into labor to carry stones up these paths.
The only thing on my mind was the ordinary lives that are tied to this giant threat in one way or another.
Many travellers wonder if going there is worth the time.
Honestly, yes!
The Great Wall of China is more than just a wall. It is more than just a tourist spot. It is the difference between the past and the present.
Moreover, it represents the nation’s desire to protect, yet to isolate at the same time. The Great Wall taught me that history is not always about the museums. It's sometimes rooted below your feet in cracked stones.
Whether you are a lover of history, a seeker of stories, or someone who likes exploring old civilizations, you definitely need to explore The Great Wall of China. Also, whenever you go there, don’t just take photos, instead sit and listen to the tales it tells you.
Author Bio
Heidi Klum is an incredible researcher and writer with the love of travelling. She is thesis writing expert who has been helping students in their thesis for years. She is an extremely talented individual working for a brand as a senior researcher and writer named “Thesis Writing Services DE” Apart from offering the Thesis Proposal Writing Help she is also a great tennis player and loves to spend her free time playing it.