The New Student's Reference Work/Chinese Wall, The

Chinese Wall, The. The construction of this great feature of the Middle Kingdom was finished in 214 B. C., as a grand barrier along the north of the Chinese empire. It is 1,500 miles long, and is constructed of two strong retaining walls of brick, rising from granite foundations, the space between being filled with stones and earth. It is about 25 feet broad at the bottom and 15 feet at the top, and from 15 to 30 feet in height. The top was at first covered with bricks, but is now overgrown with grass. The wall took ten years to build, and it is said that several millions of workmen were employed on its construction.