The Great Wall hasa history of over 2,000 years, but the history of the watchtowers is much earlier than that of the Great Wall.
The Han Dynasty paid great attention to the watchtowers' construction as the towers werevery important for transmitting signalsbefore a battle.
25,000 Watchtowers Were Built Along the Great Wall
A watchtower on the Great Wall of HuangyaguanThe watchtowers were built along the Great Wall. Thetotal number of towers was about 25,000and the distance between each tower differed.
Some of them werevery close to each otherat a distance of about 3 miles, while some of them were far away from each other at a distance of several miles.
Watchtower Shapes and Materials
Theshape of the towers variedfrom being square and rectangular according to the local conditions.
The construction materials used were mostlystone bricks, and other kinds of bricks were sometimes used depending on the materials available locally.
The height of each tower大约3到5可以它的宽度是5呢10meters.
Watchtower Functions - Signal Alarm, Storage, and Living Quarters
Signal Alarm by Making Smoke
The watchtowers were used towatch enemy movements and transmit signals.
When the soldiers on the tower saw the enemy approach, they wouldpuff smoke in the daytime and light a fire at nightto send messages one after another until all of their soldiers knew.
They burned wolf dung to create smoke in the daytime, so the smoke was called'wolf smoke'.
The Great Wall of MutianyuIt was said that the smoke from burning wolf dung would not disperse in the wind, which was good for transmitting messages immediately.
The soldiers on the Great Walllit one beacon fire and fired one salvoif just one or two enemy soldiers up to 100 enemy soldiers were found.
If the enemy count reached 500, the soldiers lit two beacon fires and fired two salvos.
The number of lit beacon fires and salvos variedwith the number of enemy soldiers.
Storage and Living Quarters for the Soldiers
Each tower hadthree stories. The first and second floors were used as living quarters for the soldiers and storage rooms for grain and fuel.
The supplies stored in the tower couldsupport the soldiers' survivalfor a long period of time, if necessary.
It was a good place tokeep out of the wind and rainas the soldiers patrolled on the Great Wall.
The Great Wall of SimataiMost of the watchtowers werebuilt on the highest places, which was more convenient for soldiers to look out for enemy movements.
If a war occurred,the watchtower became the directed centerfor the generals and it wasa place for transmitting messagesto the emperor in the capital city.
If the soldiers on the Great Wall wanted to retreat or the troops on the ground wanted to climb onto the wall, theyhad to get through the watchtowers.
- 1-Day Beijing Highlights Private Tour
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Touring the Great Wall with China Highlights
If you are planning a Great Wall tour, see our guide onhow to plan a Great Wall tour. Or seeour recommended toursfor inspiration:
- 1-Day Beijing Highlights Tour to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall
- 4-Day Jiankou to Gubeikou Great Wall Hiking Tour
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Or we can help you totailor-make your own Great Wall touraccording to your interests and requirements.
Learn More about the Great Wall
- How Long It Took to Build the Great Wall of China?
- Why the Watchtowers Were Built on the Great Wall?
- What Was the Great Wall of China Made of?
- How Was the Great Wall Defended?
- Why the Great Wall WAS, and STILL IS, So Important?
- Why the Great Wall Was Built?
- What to Pack for Great Wall Trips?
- Current Situation of the Great Wall of China
- Great Wall Threat and Protection
- Over 300 Famous People Have Visited the Great Wall
