The 

Great Wall of China (traditional Chinese: 萬 里 長 城 ; simplified Chinese: 万 里 长

城 ; pinyin: Wànlǐ Chángchéng) is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical
northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various
nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. Several walls were built from as early as the 7th
century BC,[4] with selective stretches later joined together by Qin Shi Huang (220–206 BC), the
first emperor of China. Little of the Qin wall remains.[5] Later on, many successive dynasties built
and maintained multiple stretches of border walls. The best-known sections of the wall were built
by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).

Apart from defense, other purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls, allowing the
imposition of duties on goods transported along the Silk Road, regulation or encouragement of
trade and the control of immigration and emigration.[6] Furthermore, the defensive characteristics
of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watchtowers, troop barracks, garrison
stations, signaling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of
the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor.

The frontier walls built by different dynasties have multiple courses. Today, the defensive system
of the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in
history.[8]

In 2007, more than 100 million people voted to declare the New Seven Wonders of the World. The
following list of seven winners is presented without ranking, and aims to represent global heritage.
Built between the 5th century B.C. and the 16th century, the Great Wall of China is a stone-and-
earth fortification created to protect the borders of the Chinese Empire from invading Mongols.
The Great Wall is actually a succession of multiple walls spanning approximately 4,000 miles,
making it the world's longest manmade structure.

The new seven wonders of the modern world are called the monuments that were the winners in
a public and international competition held in 2007, inspired by the list of the seven wonders of
the ancient world and made by a private company called New Open World Corporation. More
than one hundred million votes, via Internet and SMS, resulted in this new classification. The
initiative came from the Swiss businessman Bernard Weber, founder of the company.

The seven modern wonders are: Chichen Itza, in Yucatan, Mexico; The Colosseum in Rome, Italy;
the statue of Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the Great Wall of China, in China;
Machu Picchu, in the department of Cuzco, Peru; Petra, in Jordan; and the Taj Mahal, in Agra,
India.
The vote was public. Participants had to register an email on the corporation's website and choose
their favorite candidates.

In this selection, structures created by man until the year 2000 were admitted, on the condition
that they were still standing today. The results were announced on 07/07/07, that is, on July 7th,
2007 at the Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon (Portugal), in a grand ceremony.

In 2007, more than 100

million people voted to
declare the New Seven
Wonders of
the World. The following
list of seven winners is
presented without ranking,
and
aims to represent global
heritage.
Built between the 5th century
B.C. and the 16th century, the
Great Wall of China is
a stone-and-earth fortification
created to protect the borders
of the Chinese Empire
from invading Mongols. The
Great Wall is actually a
succession of multiple walls
spanning approximately
4,000 miles, making it the
world's longest manmade
structure.