Man has always needed to erect obstacles between himself and any threat, and it is from this idea that the Great Wall of China was born. (Chángchéng in Chinese) The Chinese call it "Ten Thousand-Li-Long Wall" (a name given under the First Emperor’s domination. A li represents 500 meters, which is close to reality. Indeed, with its 2860km of ramification, faithfully following the relief, its total length is of 6700km. As the crow flies, the wall measures 2700km from Jiayuguan (in Central Asia) to Shanhaiguan, on the side of the Bohai's Gulf. The circumstances of its construction have inspired many tales and fables, describing the sufferings and the folk adventures of those who worked on it.

   The Great Wall is therefore, by far, the most significant fortification ever built by men. But we may ask ourselves if defence was the only purpose of this wonderful architecture. This structure, which wasn’t built overnight, has probably evolved over the years. How can it live on nowadays ?