Precisely, how long is the Great Wall? This has been a long-unanswered question, as many dynasties in Chinese history built, modified or extended the Great Wall. But now, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage has announced a definite number after a seven-year investigation.

Twenty-one thousand one hundred and ninety-six point one eight Kilometers (21,196.18 km), That is the precise length of the Great Wall, which was included as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Kilometers (21,196.18 km), That is the precise length of the Great Wall, which was included as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Built over two thousand years ago, the Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It's a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, wood and other materials built across the historical northern borders to ward off invaders.

Although it is also called "wan Li Chang Cheng", which means ten-thousand li long wall in Chinese, this is only a description for a very, very long wall.

To get the precise length of the man-made masterpiece, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage began surveying the wall in 2006. More than 2,000 technicians worked on the comprehensive survey using state-of-the-art technology, in 15 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. The project proved to be very difficult as the Great Wall zigzags and winds up and down mountain edges and valleys.

新闻资讯：

在第七个“文化遗产日”来临之际，国家文物局5日在北京居庸关长城发布了长城资源调查和认定成果——中国历代长城分布于15个省区市，总长度为21196．18千米，包含遗产43721处。跨越15个省区市；长达21196.18千米；相关长城遗产43721处——这样一组数据意味着，目前全国仅仅7万名的文物工作者，都来保护一处处长城遗产，也依然捉襟见肘。古人有能力修筑如此规模的建筑，是奇迹；今人若能保护好古人创造的奇迹，也应算是创造了新奇迹。

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