the Great Wall of China near Beijing

The Great Wall of China's long legacy

The Ming dynasty built a giant wall stretching 5,000 miles to keep invaders out of China, but how effective was it against the enemy?

The Great Wall is nearly 30 feet high along some stretches, and often built through rugged and mountainous terrain, such as the Huanghuacheng region near Beijing.
Photograph by KIM WALTER/FOTOTECA 9X12
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