More than a hundred secret passages discovered on the Great Wall

The remains of more than 130 secret gates on the Great Wall of China, one of the great wonders of the world, have recently been revealed through high-resolution images by a research team.

According to Xinhua, based on more detailed analysis of the images and actual trips to the Great Wall, the team found that each secret door was designed to be compatible with the local terrain . According to experts, these secret passages were for people on reconnaissance missions to pass through, while some were built as communication channels between the inside and outside of the Great Wall or for trade in ancient times.

According to some historical documents from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), nomadic tribes were allowed to use such secret gates to graze their livestock between Qinghai and Hetao in northwest China, an area with abundant water and grass resources at the time. Zhang Yukun, a professor at Tianjin University who led the research team, said this was entirely possible because some of the large secret gates could allow two horses to pass through at the same time in both directions.

High-quality images of secret passages stretching across the Great Wall. (Photo: Xinhua).

'All of this helps prove that the Great Wall is not completely closed, but secretly 'opened',' Mr. Zhang added.

Previously, China had very little research on such secret passages. This new discovery is considered a step forward in the study of the history and structure of the Great Wall.

The most mysterious tunnels in the Great Wall have also been discovered by the research team. These passages were recorded by scholars in the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Soldiers break down the camouflage wall of a secret passage on the Great Wall. (Photo: Xinhua).

"The enemy side of the secret passage was camouflaged with bricks, while the other side was left empty. The enemy had almost no idea where the passages were from the outside, but when the main pass nearby was attacked, soldiers could break the gate from the inside, like breaking an eggshell, and launch a surprise attack. This is a great demonstration of ancient Chinese military wisdom ," said Li Zhe and his team.

The Great Wall, with a total length of more than 20,000km, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and China's most popular tourist attraction.