TheGreatWallisaseriesofstoneandearthenfortificationsinChina,builtfromthe5thcenturyBCtothe16thcenturyAD.ItwasconstructedtoprotecttheChineseEmpirefromraidsbyvariousnomadicgroupsinthenorth.TheGreatWallstretchesover21,000miles(35,000km)acrossthecountry,withsectionsbuiltduringdifferenterasandbydifferentdynasties.ItshistoryandiconicstatushavemadeitapopulartouristdestinationandasymbolofChina\'sancientcultureandhistory.