Facts on China

Beijing has a population of 20 million

It took 14 years to build The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall is 5,500 miles long

The Great Wall was built 2,200 years ago

Which chinese year were you born in?

The Chinese Lunar Year

Calendar

The celebration of the Chinese Lunar year goes back centuries. 
There are 12 different creatures represented in the Chinese calendar.  A different animal is commemorated each year.  After 12 years the animals are repeated.

Were you born in the Year of the Horse?  Snake? or Tiger?  Locate the year in the chart, then look at the top of the column to discover the most likely animal celebrated during your birth year.
Ram or
Sheep
/Pig

2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994 
1995
1997
1998
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905

 




Follow the link below to watch a discovery programme special on the 'Great Wall'. (9 mins long)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_krttdZz-h8


The Great Wall of China has been listed as one of the seven wonders of the world.

Do you know where the Great Wall of China is located?

The Great Wall of China stretches over approximately 4,000 miles from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. Simply put, the path of the Great Wall of China stretches from a seaport on China's east coast to Xinjiang in China's northwest and in between it passes through a variety of mountains, plateaus and deserts.

Do you know who built the Great Wall of China?The labor force used in the construction of the Great Wall of China was made up of three main groups: the soldiers, common people, and criminals. The soldiers were the primary workforces, while the criminals were forced into labor as punishment.

Do you know how long it took to build the Great Wall of China?The Great Wall of China was never built at one go. Initially, powerful regional kingdoms built their own walls, which were solely meant for their own defensive military requirements. The earliest known sections of the Great Wall of China were constructed in the 7th century BC. After the emergence of unified China in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), the Great Wall of China became a collective entity. Around 1700 years after this the Great Wall of China was enlarged and enhanced.

Do you know the length of the Great Wall of China? 

The Great Wall of China stretches over approximately 6,400 km across a variety of terrains like mountains, plateaus and desserts.

Do you know the width of the Great Wall of China?The width of the Great Wall of China is different at various positions and hence ranges from 15 to 30 feet.

Do you know the height of the Great Wall of China ?The Great Wall of China has an average height of about 25 feet.

Do you know the purpose for which the Great Wall of China was built?The Great Wall of China was built to serve as a site for lookout posts, as means to provide the armies a swift warning system and to create an elevated military roadway through the rugged terrain. Owing to the differences between agricultural and nomadic economies in China, the Great Wall provided a protection to the economic development and cultural progress. The Great Wall of China also safeguarded the trade routes such as the Silk Road, and facilitated safe transmission of information and transportation.

Do you know what the Great Wall of China is made of?
In the nascent stages the Great Wall of China was mainly built from earth, stones and wood. The use of bricks was a later development. Owing to the enormous amount of quantities of raw materials required to construct the Great Wall of China, the builders usually used materials that were available easily. For example while building over the mountain ranges, the stones of the mountain were used; while in the plains earth was pounded into solid blocks to be used in construction, whereas inn the deserts, the sanded reeds and juniper tamarisks were put to use.