Great Wall of China: Construction Timeline

Two Millennia of Building

The Great Wall wasn't built in a single project but evolved over roughly 2,400 years.

Major Phases

• 7th century BC: Earliest walls built by various states during the Spring and Autumn periods
• 221–206 BC: Qin Dynasty connects and extends existing walls
• 206 BC – 220 AD: Han Dynasty expands westward along the Silk Road
• 1368–1644: Ming Dynasty constructs the most famous, well-preserved sections using brick and stone
• 17th century AD: Construction largely ceases after the Ming fall

Continuous Evolution

Throughout this period, walls were constantly repaired, rebuilt, and rerouted. Different dynasties used different materials—rammed earth, adobe, brick, stone—depending on local resources. The "Great Wall" is really many walls built by many regimes for border defense and trade control.