Great Wall of China

American  

noun

1. a system of fortified walls with a roadway along the top, constructed as a defense for China against the nomads of the regions that are now Mongolia and Manchuria: completed in the 3rd century b.c., but later repeatedly modified and rebuilt. 2,000 miles (3,220 km) long.

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Great Wall of China British  

noun

1. a defensive wall in N China, extending from W Gansu to the Gulf of Liaodong: constructed in the 3rd century _bc as a defence against the Mongols; substantially rebuilt in the 15th century. Length: over 2400 km (1500 miles). Average height: 6 m (20 ft). Average width: 6 m (20 ft)

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Great Wall of China Cultural  

1. A stone wall extending for fifteen hundred miles across northern China. Built to defend the Chinese border in ancient times, it has become a favorite destination for visitors to the country.

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Example Sentences

Lion and dragon dancers perform on the Great Wall of China, in Badaling, to entertain visitors who have come to enjoy the illuminated monument during the Year of the Horse celebrations.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

So maybe not a Great Wall of China exactly, but certainly a wall with Chinese characteristics, given that an estimated 90 percent of surveillance cameras are made in China.

From Slate • Dec. 29, 2025

But after paying a visit to the Great Wall of China, he quickly got down to business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 19, 2025

The teams started their journey at The Great Wall of China and have to travel across three countries to become the first across the finish line, in a bid to win £20,000.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2025

When it had originally been erected, some people had even compared it to the Great Wall of China, although that was pushing it a bit.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin