Outside the Walls of China

Northern stars, including those of Ursa Major and Minor, over the west end of Great Wall of China; the gate of Ja Yu where once was the eastern edge of the ancient Silk Road. The Great wall of China has built and rebuilt from 5th century BC to the 16th century, to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire. The Wall, a World Heritage Site, is the world’s longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west.