Shi Huangdi’s wall was not as grand as the Great Wall that still stands today.
Construction on the wall we still see was started by the Ming dynasty in 1368 CE. Much of the Great Wall is 25 feet high and just as wide. Made mostly of brick and stone, it has tall watchtowers. The many sections and branches the Ming dynasty constructed cover more than 5,500 miles. About a quarter of that distance is natural barriers, such as rivers and hills. A small part is made up of ditches. In 2012, the wall was measured. The report said the overall length of the wall, including parts built at many different times, is 13,170 miles.
