Great Wall of China explained to kids

The Great Wall of China is a long wall that was built to protect the Chinese Empire from enemies. It is the longest man-made structure in the world. The wall is about 5,500 miles long. That is longer than the distance from Los Angeles to New York City! The wall was built over 2,000 years ago. It was started by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. It took more than 10 years to build. More than a million workers were used to build the wall. The wall is made of stone, brick, wood, and other materials. It is about 25 feet high and 15 feet wide. The wall has watchtowers, forts, and Gates. The wall was built to keep out invaders from the north. It did not always work. The Mongols invaded China in 1215 and again in 1260. They climbed over the wall both times. The Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That means it is a very special place that needs to be protected. People visit the Great Wall of China from all over the world. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China.