All language subtitles for Unearthed Ghosts of the Great Wall Science Channel 720p EN

Narrator:
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.

THE LONGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE
FORTIFICATION EVER BUILT.

Man: NO MATTER WHAT
HEIGHT YOU CLIMB,

HOW GOOD YOUR EYES ARE,

NO MATTER HOW GOOD
YOUR BINOCULARS ARE,

YOU CAN'T SEE IT ALL.

IT REALLY IS
A GEOGRAPHICAL WONDER.

Narrator: IT'S RECOGNIZED
ALL OVER THE WORLD,

BUT ITS CONSTRUCTION
IS STILL SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.

EVERY TIME I COME TO A PLACE
LIKE THIS ON THE GREAT WALL

WHERE IT STRETCHES
FOR MILES AND MILES,

I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY
EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Narrator: WHAT DID IT TAKE
TO BUILD IT?

WHO WAS IT BUILT TO KEEP OUT?

ALTHOUGH THEY WERE
FEW IN NUMBER,

THEY WERE THE MOST FEARED
WARRIORS IN THE WORLD.

Narrator:
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT
IS TO BLOW THIS WALL APART.

DISMANTLING ITS DEFENSES,

AND PULLING APART
ITS TOWERS BRICK

BY BRICK WILL HELP US

UNEARTH THE ASTONISHING
ENGINEERING SECRETS

AT THE HEART
OF THIS ANCIENT WONDER.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.

A VAST FORTIFICATION THAT,
IN TOTAL,

STRETCHES OVER 13,000 MILES
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

THIS IMMENSE MEGA-STRUCTURE
WAS A DEFENSIVE SHIELD

FOR THE WORLD'S
MOST POPULOUS NATION.

IT STRETCHES FROM SNOW-COVERED

DESERTS ALL THE WAY
TO THE YELLOW SEA

AND WAS THE LARGEST
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

THE WORLD HAD EVER SEEN.

THIS WALL IS THE GREATEST MAN-
MADE STRUCTURE ON OUR PLANET.

OVER A BILLION TOUGH
CLAY BRICKS HELPED IT

SURVIVE FOR CENTURIES.

THE WALL RISES
ABOUT 23 FEET HIGH

WITH TALL BATTLEMENTS
TO SHIELD DEFENDERS...

AND BUILT-IN ARROW LOOPS
FOR SHOOTING AT INVADERS.

THIS MONUMENTAL BRICK STRUCTURE
IS THOUSANDS OF MILES

LONG AND STRETCHES
OVER 16 FEET WIDE...

...WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
WATCH TOWERS STANDING GUARD.

FOR CENTURIES, IT WAS CHINA'S
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE,

BUT THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THIS ICONIC

BRICK WALL WASN'T THE FIRST TIME
THAT CHINA'S EMPERORS

HAD BUILT A BARRICADE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

[ MAN VOCALIZING SPIRITUALLY ]

THEIR PREDECESSORS
ERECTED PRIMITIVE EARTH WALLS

OVER 1,500 YEARS
BEFORE THE FAMOUS

BRICK WALL WAS EVEN STARTED.

THE BIG MYSTERY --
WHAT DROVE CHINA'S RULERS

TO BUILD SUCH
MAMMOTH STRUCTURES?

QUITE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS,
THESE,

AND MAKING
THE SCENERY MORE MAGNIFICENT

IS THE WALL RIGHT HERE.

THIS WAS THE ANCIENT FRONTIER.

Narrator: WILLIAM LINDESAY
IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S

FOREMOST GREAT WALL EXPERTS.

HE HAS WALKED
THE WALL'S LENGTH

TO INVESTIGATE
ITS MANY SECRETS.

THE THOUSANDS
OF GREAT WALL MILES

UNDER WILLIAM'S BELT

HAVE GIVEN HIM
A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING

OF ITS HISTORY.

THIS WAY IS CHINA.

THIS WAY IS MONGOLIA,
THE NOMADIC LANDS.

THE CHINESE HAD A GOOD DEAL.
THEY COULD FARM.

THEY COULD PRODUCE
A LOT OF FOOD,

MORE THAN THEY NEEDED.

PEOPLE IN THE NORTH, BAD DEAL.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FARM THERE.

THE GROWING SEASON IS TOO SHORT.

Narrator: THE NOMADS LIVED
TO THE NORTH OF CHINA

AND MOVED THEIR HERDS
WITH THE SEASONS.

THEY RAIDED CHINA ON HORSEBACK
TO GET A HOLD OF THE GOODS

AND FOODS THEY COULDN'T
PRODUCE THEMSELVES.

Lindesay: THE DROUGHT
OR A TERRIBLE WINTER

COULD DESTROY EVERYTHING
THE PEOPLE HAD,

AND THEN THEY HAD
A SURVIVAL CHALLENGE.

WHERE TO GO FOR RELIEF.

THEY DIDN'T GO NORTH TO SIBERIA.

THEY NATURALLY CAME SOUTH
AND TRESPASSED ON CHINESE LAND.

THE NOMADS WERE NATURALLY
A CRACK ARMY.

FROM CHILDHOOD,
THEY'RE RIDING HORSES --

EVEN WITHOUT SADDLES
AND STIRRUPS.

THIS KIND OF SCHOOLING
MADE THE NOMADS

THE MOST FEARED ARMY
IN THE WORLD.

Narrator: TO MAKE THINGS WORSE
FOR THE CHINESE,

THE NOMADS WEREN'T JUST
EXCELLENT HORSEMEN.

THEY ARMED THEMSELVES
WITH AN INCREDIBLY

SOPHISTICATED WEAPON --

THE COMPOSITE BOW.

YANG FUXI IS ONE OF
THE WORLD'S BEST BOWMAKERS.

FOR TEN GENERATIONS, HIS FAMILY
HAS PRACTICED THIS ANCIENT,

NOBLE ART,
WHICH WAS THE KEY

TO MAKING THE NOMAD HORDE
SO DEVASTATING.

MASTER YUNG'S TASK
IS TO CREATE A BOW

THAT STORES ENOUGH ENERGY
TO KILL A MAN.

HIS FIRST STEP
IS TO CARVE OUT AND GLUE

TOGETHER THE BOW'S WOODEN CORE.

BUT WOOD ON ITS OWN
DOESN'T HAVE THE FLEX

AND STRENGTH TO PROPEL AN ARROW
TO A LETHAL SPEED.

THE SECRET THAT STOPS
THE WOODEN BOW

FROM SNAPPING IS
ITS CLEVER CONSTRUCTION.

MASTER YUNG GLUES
A LAYER OF TOUGH

BUFFALO HORN ONTO THE BOW

TO MAKE THE WOODEN
CORE STRONGER.

TO GIVE THE BOW A BIGGER PUNCH,

HE GLUES TENDONS FROM A BULL'S
NECK ONTO THE OTHER SIDE.

UPON RELEASE,
THE ARROW FLIES AWAY

AT AN ASTOUNDING
186 MILES PER HOUR.

HOW COULD THE CHINESE DEFEND
THOUSANDS OF MILES OF TERRITORY

AGAINST THESE VICIOUS
NOMAD ATTACKS?

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator: IN ORDER TO PROTECT
THE ANCIENT CHINESE

FROM INVADING MONGOLIANS,

AN ELABORATE BARRIER
THOUSANDS OF MILES

LONG WAS CONSTRUCTED.

BENEATH THE BRICK WE SEE TODAY

LIE THE REMAINS
OF AN EARLIER EARTHEN WALL.

LAYERS OF COMPACTED SOIL CREATED
A ROCK-HARD BARRICADE.

THIN REED MATS
SEPARATED THE LAYERS

FOR STABILITY AND DRAINAGE.

THESE MULTI-LAYERED EARTH WALLS
ROSE UP NEARLY 20 FEET TALL.

SATELLITE IMAGERY REVEALS
THAT THESE FIRST WALLS

STRETCHED FROM THE YELLOW SEA

ALL THE WAY TO THE DESERT
OF WESTERN CHINA.

BUT HOW DID THE CHINESE
BUILD A WALL LIKE THIS

IN A BARREN DESERT

WITH NO OBVIOUS
BUILDING MATERIALS AROUND?

Fairbrother:
EVERY TIME I COME TO A PLACE
LIKE THIS ON THE GREAT WALL

WHERE IT STRETCHES
FOR MILES AND MILES,

I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY
EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Narrator: GREAT WALL EXPLORER
RICHARD FAIRBROTHER

IS IN CHINA'S
WESTERN DESERT.

HE'S SEARCHING FOR SECRETS
OF THE EARLIEST GREAT WALL,

WHICH WASN'T MADE OF BRICKS,
BUT OUT OF SOIL.

IT'S AMAZING TO THINK
ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE

INVOLVED AND THE AMOUNT OF LABOR

IT TOOK TO BUILD
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Narrator: TO INVESTIGATE
HOW THE WALLS

HAVE STOOD UP TO THESE
HARSH DESERT WINDS...

...RICHARD IS GOING TO
RECONSTRUCT PART OF THE WALL.

BUILDER MR. YUNG AND HIS TEAM

ARE USING ORIGINAL METHODS
FOR THIS PROJECT.

THE FINISHED STRUCTURE IS KNOWN
AS A RAMMED EARTH WALL.

YOU BUILD THESE WALLS
BY LAYERS OF SOIL,

AND THEN LAYERS OF THESE REEDS,

AND YOU PUT THEM ON TOP THERE,

AND THEN SPREAD THEM AROUND.

ONE ANOTHER ADVANTAGE
OF THESE REEDS

IS THAT THEY PROVIDE A
DRAINAGE MECHANISM FOR THE WALL.

SO THE RAIN COMES DOWN
THROUGH THE SOIL,

AND THEN IS PASSED OUT
BY THE STRUCTURE OF THESE REEDS.

Narrator: EVEN WITH REEDS
FOR DRAINAGE, VIOLENT STORMS

AND SCOURING WINDS
EVENTUALLY WEAR EVERYTHING

TO DUST IN THIS
UNFORGIVING LANDSCAPE.

SO, HOW ARE PARTS
OF THE WALL

OVER 2,000 YEARS OLD
STILL STANDING?

LAB TESTS REVEAL THAT
THE DESERT SOIL KNOWN AS "LESS"

HAS A SPECIAL PROPERTY
THANKS IN PART

TO THE CRUSHED SHELLS
OF LONG-DEAD SNAILS.

LESS IS RICH
IN CALCIUM CARBONATE,

AND WHEN THAT'S
EXPOSED TO WATER,

IT GIVES THE WALL OR THE SOIL
A SELF-CEMENTING CHARACTERISTIC.

Narrator:
THE ANCIENT BUILDERS

UNKNOWINGLY MADE USE
OF THIS CLEVER CHEMISTRY

TO BUILD A WALL
THAT STOOD FOR MILLENNIA.

THE PURPOSE OF THE RAMMING

IS TO COMPRESS
THE LAYERS TOGETHER AND...

...GIVE IT
THAT TREMENDOUS STRENGTH

THAT THESE RAMMED-EARTH WALLS
ARE KNOWN FOR.

IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALL DAY
LONG IN THE BLAZING DESERT SUN,

I THINK YOU'D BE
PRETTY KNACKERED BY THE END.

Narrator:
A TEAM OF 80 MEN COULD BUILD
OVER A HALF-MILE OF WALL

IN JUST 7 DAYS.

IT TOWERED ALMOST 20 FEET TALL

AND KEPT ENEMIES
OUT OF CHINA FOR CENTURIES.

AND THE ONLY WAY
THROUGH WAS TO CLIMB

THE WALL UNDER A HAIL
OF LETHAL ARROWS.

BY THE 16th CENTURY,
THINGS HAD CHANGED.

CHINA'S ENEMIES HAD
MORE FEROCIOUS WEAPONS.

AND THE OLD WALLS WERE LACKING.

THEY ALREADY HAD A LOT OF WALL,
SO WHAT WAS THE NEXT OPTION?

MORE WALL?
BETTER WALL?

THAT WAS THE QUESTION
TO BE ANSWERED.

Narrator: THE ONLY OPTION
WAS TO UNDERGO

THE MOST AMBITIOUS
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

THE WORLD HAD EVER SEEN.

Narrator: THE ORIGINAL
GREAT WALL OF CHINA

WAS BUILT FROM MUD
OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO...

AND CONSTRUCTED TO DEFEND
THE CHINESE EMPIRE

AGAINST NOMAD ATTACK.

BUT OVER THE CENTURIES,
AS WARFARE DEVELOPED,

THIS EARTH WALL BECAME
A LESS FEARSOME OBSTACLE.

MILITARY ADVANCED
FORCED THE CHINESE

TO STRENGTHEN
THEIR LINE OF DEFENSE.

HISTORIAN WILLIAM LINDESAY
IS WALKING THE GREAT WALL

AT JIANKOU IN THE MOUNTAINS
NORTH OF BEIJING.

HE'S TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT PROMPTED THE CHINESE

TO UPGRADE THIS VAST
DEFENSIVE BARRIER.

JUST 50 MILES OVER
THERE IS BEIJING.

THAT WAS NOT
A VERY SAFE POSITION.

IN 1550, THE MONGOLS STORMED
THROUGH THE WALL.

[ SWORDS CLASHING ]

AND THE VULNERABILITY
OF BEIJING'S POSITION

CAME INTO PERSPECTIVE.

Narrator:
THE MONGOLIAN NOMADS SURGED
THROUGH THESE MOUNTAINS

TO THE LAND SURROUNDING
THE CHINESE CAPITAL, BEIJING.

THEY DEVASTATED
THE CIVILIAN POPULATION,

AND THE CHINESE RULING DYNASTY
FACED A HUGE DILEMMA.

Lindesay:
THE COURT AND THE CORRIDORS

OF POWER WERE ABSOLUTELY
SHAKING IN FEAR.

THE QUESTION WAS, HOW COULD
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA FAIL?

Narrator: THE TIME HAD COME
FOR A NEW AND IMPROVED WALL.

THE CHINESE BUILT
A VAST STRUCTURE

USING BILLIONS OF TONS
OF SOLID STONE AND BRICKS.

IT SAT ON A STURDY FOUNDATION
OF HUGE GRANITE BLOCKS.

SMOOTH BRICKS MADE
THE SHEER WALLS

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SCALE.

EMBATTLEMENTS PROTECTED
THE DEFENDERS AT THE TOP.

RUBBLE WAS CRAMMED
BETWEEN THE BRICK FACES

TO CREATE A STABLE CORE.

AND SMOOTH STONES PAVED THE TOP.

NEARLY 23 FEET HIGH
AND OVER 16 FEET THICK,

THIS WALL WAS IMPENETRABLE.

SO, HOW DID THE BUILDERS
PRODUCE ENOUGH BRICKS

TO BUILD A WALL ACROSS CHINA?

COLIN RICHARDS
HAS THE ANSWER.

HE HAS SPENT HIS CAREER
CONSERVING BRICK BUILDINGS.

TODAY, HE JOINS AN EXTRAORDINARY
$15 MILLION PROJECT

TO RESTORE THIS
MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE.

ALONGSIDE AN EIGHT-MAN
RESTORATION CREW,

HE'S USING ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUES TO INVESTIGATE

JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS
TO BUILD THE GREAT WALL.

ANY EXCESS,
THROW IT INTO THE MOLD.

NOW WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE
IT GETS TO THE CORNERS.

IF WE CAN GET THIS OFF EASY,
THEN WE'VE GOT A GOOD BRICK.

Narrator: THE SECRET TO BUILDING
A WALL QUICKLY

IS TO USE BIG BRICKS
MADE OF CLAY.

THE BRICKS ON THE GREAT WALL
ARE FOUR TIMES LARGER

THAN THE BRICKS WE USE TODAY
TO BUILD HOUSES.

THE BIGGER YOU
CAN CREATE THEM,

ALTHOUGH THEY'RE
VERY HEAVY TO MOVE,

THEN THE QUICKER
YOU CAN BUILD THE WALL,

BECAUSE YOU'RE SIMPLY STACKING
ONE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

WE CAN SMOOTH OUT THE SIDE.

THAT CAN DRY OUT.

IT'LL GO IN THE KILN,

AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER BRICK
FOR THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.

Narrator: THE TEAM LEAVES
THE BRICKS TO DRY.

NOW THEY NEED FIRING.

Richards: WE'RE PUTTING
THE LAST FEW BRICKS

ONTO THE TOP OF THE KILN,

AND WE'VE LEFT SPACES
BETWEEN THEM SO THAT

THE HEAT CAN COME UP
TO THE TOP OF THE KILN,

STAY THERE BEFORE IT MAKES
ITS JOURNEY BACK DOWN AGAIN

AND OUT THROUGH THE CHIMNEYS.

AND WE'LL PUT A BIG LAYER
OF EARTH ONTO THE TOP,

WHICH WILL INSULATE,

KEEP THE HEAT IN
FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.

Narrator: IT TAKES COLIN AND
THE TEAM A MORNING OF HARD,

PHYSICAL LABOR
JUST TO LOAD THE KILN.

FIRING WILL FUSE
THE CLAY PARTICLES IN THE BRICKS

TO MAKE THEM EXTREMELY TOUGH.

WHEN THE WALL WAS FIRST BUILT,

THOUSANDS OF KILNS
LIT UP THIS LANDSCAPE.

TO PRODUCE PERFECTLY
FIRED BRICKS,

COLIN AND THE TEAM RELY
ON THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

TO CAREFULLY CONTROL
THE KILN'S TEMPERATURE.

Richards: WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE
ON THE COLORS

THAT THE BRICKS ARE GOING TO.

WE GO THROUGH A SORT OF RED HOT,

A YELLOW HOT, A WHITE HOT.

AND ONCE WE'RE ON THE WHITE HOT,

WE HAVE TO HOLD IT
AT THAT FOR 12 HOURS

TO ENSURE THAT TEMPERATURE,

WHICH IS AROUND
1,000 DEGREES,

SPREADS THROUGH
THE STACKS OF BRICKS,

AND THEN STOP THE FIRING.

Narrator: THE BRICK KILN WORKS
THROUGH AN INGENIOUS DESIGN.

THE FIRE ISN'T UNDER THE BRICKS,

BUT BESIDE THEM IN A TUNNEL
THAT DRAWS IN FRESH AIR.

THE KILN'S SHAPE FORCES
HOT AIR DOWN THROUGH THE BRICKS

AND OUT OF THE THREE CHIMNEYS
SO THE BRICKS FIRE EVENLY.

YEAH. 24 HOURS AFTER
THE SUCCESSFUL FIRING,

THE CREW MUST HAUL THESE NEWLY
FIRED BRICKS UP TO THE WALL.

SO HOW DID THE WALL'S
ORIGINAL BUILDERS

MOVE BILLIONS OF BRICKS

FROM THE KILNS TO THE TOP
OF HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS?

Richards: THE TRANSPORTATION
OF THESE SORT OF HEAVY OBJECTS

FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER,
YOU KNOW, IS VERY ARDUOUS.

Narrator: JUST LIKE THEIR
ANCIENT COUNTERPARTS,

COLIN AND THE TEAM
HAVE ONLY ONE OPTION

TO GET THE WORK
DONE -- MANPOWER.

Richards: WE NEED ALL THE LABOR
WE CAN GET

BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE
YOU'VE GOT,

THEN THE EASIER
THE TASK BECOMES.

Narrator:
MORE THAN 1 MILLION MEN

WERE PUT TO WORK
BUILDING THE WALL,

CONSTANTLY FIRING,
TRANSPORTING,

AND LAYING NEW BRICKS.

TODAY, INVESTIGATORS
LIKE WILLIAM ARE TRYING

TO SOLVE ANOTHER OF THE GREAT
WALL'S ENDURING MYSTERIES.

HOW DID THE ARCHITECTS DETERMINE
THE BEST PATH AGAINST INVADERS?

WHENEVER VISITORS
REACH THE WALL,

THEY ALWAYS TEND TO ASK
THE SAME QUESTIONS.

AND ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS IS,
WHY IS THE WALL HERE

AND NOT OVER THERE
OR OVER HERE?

Narrator: WILLIAM STUDIES
THE LANDSCAPE AROUND

THE GREAT WALL TO UNDERSTAND

WHY THE CHINESE BUILT
WHERE THEY DID.

Lindesay: FROM THE TOP
OF THIS WATCH TOWER,

I CAN SEE PRECISELY
WHY THE WALL IS HERE.

DOWN HERE, LOW GROUND,
ASCENDING, ASCENDING,

AND THIS IS THE PEAK.

AND THE WALL IS TAKING
THAT PEAK LINE

TO THE PEAK OVER THERE.

I MOVE TO THE RIGHT,
AND THE WALL DESCENDS.

LEVEL OF THE MOUNTAINS
FALLS AWAY DRAMATICALLY.

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTELY
PERFECT LINE

FOR THIS SECTION OF WALL.

Narrator: THE WALL'S BUILDERS
FOLLOWED THE HIGH GROUND,

BUT THEIR PATH WAS NEVER
A SIMPLE, STRAIGHT LINE.

Lindesay: INITIALLY, I COULDN'T
SEE ANY LOGIC

IN THAT SEEMINGLY HAPHAZARD
ROUTE THAT THE WALL TOOK.

BUT ACTUALLY,
ALL OF THESE TWISTS

AND TURNS, I BELIEVE,
ARE FOR A PURPOSE.

IT IMPROVED THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
IN TERMS OF LINES OF FIRE.

NOT ONLY IN THE FACES
OF THE ENEMY,

BUT FROM THE SIDE.

NO ENEMY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND

WOULD WANT TO FIGHT
WITH THE CHINESE RIGHT HERE.

Narrator:
THE CHINESE BUILT THE GREAT WALL
TO FOLLOW THE TERRAIN,

RISING 4,921 FEET
TO THE TOPS OF MOUNTAINS.

THEY POSITIONED WATCH TOWERS
492 FEET APART

TO MAXIMIZE THEIR KILL ZONES.

AND CLEARED THE TREES
FOR TWO MILES

SO RAIDERS WERE IN CLEAR VIEW.

SPURS EXTENDED THE LINE OF SIGHT
TO GUARD AGAINST ATTACKS.

THE WALL WAS A HUGE
PHYSICAL BARRIER.

BUT WITHOUT SOLDIERS,
IT WASN'T STOPPING ANYBODY.

HAD THE CHINESE JUST
BUILT A WALL IN THE HOPE

THAT THAT WOULD KEEP THE NOMADS
ON THEIR HORSES OUT,

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY USELESS.

THE WALL HAD TO BE
PERMANENTLY GARRISONED,

ACTIVELY MANNED.

Narrator:
JUST HOW MANY WARRIORS

WOULD IT TAKE TO PATROL
THIS MASSIVE WALL?

AND WHERE WERE THEY
ALL GOING TO LIVE?

Narrator:
THE CHINESE CONSTRUCTED HUGE
SECTIONS OF THE 16th CENTURY

GREAT WALL
FROM BRICKS AND MORTAR.

IT PRESENTED
A FORMIDABLE BARRIER

TO CHINA'S ENEMIES.

BUT WITH NO ARMY
TO REPEL THESE ATTACKERS,

THE WALL ALONE WAS NOT ENOUGH.

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WALL
DEPENDED ON WHO WAS MANNING IT,

HOW MANY MEN THERE WERE.

Narrator: WILLIAM LINDESAY
IS AT JINSHANGLING,

NORTH OF BEIJING,
TO INVESTIGATE

HOW THE CHINESE
MANNED THIS WALL

WITH A MILLION SOLDIERS.

Lindesay: I BELIEVE THIS IS
THE PROTOTYPE SECTION

FOR THE REDESIGN OF THE WALL.

NOWHERE ELSE DO YOU FIND
THE TOWERS SO CLOSE TOGETHER.

Narrator: THE CHINESE BUILT
THE BRICK WALL

WITH THESE TOWERS
JUST 492 FEET APART.

Lindesay:
TOWERS LIKE THESE PROBABLY
ACCOMMODATED 20 TO 30 MEN.

I FOUND FIGURES EARLY 1600s

OF 120 PER KILOMETER.

PRETTY INTENSE GARRISON LEVELS.

Narrator: LIVING HUNDREDS OF
MILES FROM CIVILIZATION,

HOW DID THESE SOLDIERS
SURVIVE IN NEAR ISOLATION?

THE ANSWER LIES INSIDE THE WALL.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TOWERS
HOUSED THE TROOPS.

EACH TOWER'S
FIRST FLOOR SLEPT UP

TO 30 SOLDIERS ON STONE BEDS,

WHILE COAL FIRES
KEPT THE ROOMS WARM

DURING FREEZING WINTERS.

WALLS 36 FEET HIGH AND OVER

3 FEET THICK
PROTECTED THE SOLDIERS,

AND WINDOWS ALLOWED
FOR A CONSTANT LOOKOUT.

ON THE UPPER LEVEL, A WEAPONS
STORE KEPT THE SOLDIERS ARMED

WHEN THEY FACED AN ATTACK.

THESE TOWERS GARRISONED
THE ARMIES

THAT STOOD GUARD
ON THE WALL ALL YEAR ROUND.

THE GREAT WALL AND ITS THOUSANDS
OF TOWERS CONTAIN

MORE BRICKS THAN ANY OTHER
BUILDING ON THE PLANET.

RESTORATION EXPERT
COLIN RICHARDS

IS HELPING A CREW REBUILD
A DERELICT SECTION OF WALL.

THE CREW HAS MADE NEW BRICKS.

NOW THEY MUST FIX THEM
TOGETHER WITH MORTAR.

THIS MORTAR CAN BE INCREDIBLY
HARD, AND IN SOME INSTANCES,

HARDER THAN
THE BRICKS THEMSELVES.

AND I'VE GOT A PICTURE HERE
WHICH SHOWS THE MORTAR

STANDING PROUD OF THE BRICKS.

Narrator:
IN SECTIONS, THE GREAT WALL'S
BRICKS HAVE ERODED AWAY,

LEAVING A LATTICE
OF THE STRONGER MORTAR BEHIND.

Richards: THEY'VE ERODED BEYOND
THE FACE OF THE WALL,

AND IT JUST DEMONSTRATES

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE
MATERIAL THIS IS.

Narrator: THE MIX OF THE MORTAR
REMAINS A MYSTERY.

THERE'S NO WRITTEN RECORD
OF THE ORIGINAL RECIPE.

BUT COLIN'S HEARD
FROM THE LOCAL FARMERS

THAT THE KEY TO ITS STRENGTH LAY
IN A SURPRISING INGREDIENT --

RICE.

TO INVESTIGATE, COLIN USES
A CRUDE TECHNIQUE

TO ANALYZE
THE MORTAR'S CONTENTS.

IF YOU TAKE A LUMP
OF THE ORIGINAL MORTAR

AND BREAK IT DOWN
AS FINELY AS YOU CAN

AND THEN ADD IT TO WATER,
AGITATE THE MIX,

THEN YOU SHOULD GET VARIOUS
SETTLEMENT OF DIFFERENT LAYERS,

AND THAT WILL ALLOW
YOU TO IDENTIFY

WHAT THE MIX WAS CONSTRUCTED OF.

Narrator:
HE LEAVES THE CRUSHED MORTAR
TO SETTLE FOR THREE HOURS,

AND THEN CHECKS IT.

WHAT IS SURPRISING IS
THAT WE CAN SEE THAT THERE IS

QUITE A LOT OF AGGREGATE
IN THE MORTAR.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S SAND.

THERE'S SORT OF CRUSHED STONE,
THERE'S SILT.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF SORT OF
BINDING MATERIAL IN THE MORTAR,

AND THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING
BECAUSE IT'S A VERY STRONG MIX.

Narrator:
THE AGGREGATE IN THE MIX

MAKES THE MORTAR PACK
TOGETHER TIGHTLY,

BUT COLIN TRUSTS
WHAT LOCALS SAID

ABOUT THE STICKY RICE WATER.

Richards: IN THIS PART OF CHINA,
RICE WAS IN ABUNDANCE,

AND THEY FOUND THAT
IF THEY ADDED IT TO THE MORTAR,

NOT ONLY WOULD IT
SET MORE QUICKLY,

BUT IT WAS FAR MORE DURABLE.

Narrator: COLIN IS MAKING
A BATCH OF STICKY RICE

MORTAR FOR HIS OWN BRICKS.

Richards:
WE NEED TO BOIL THIS WATER

AND GET IT SORT OF
BUBBLING QUITE QUICKLY,

AND THEN ADD OUR RICE TO IT.

Narrator: SCIENTISTS BELIEVE
THAT THE STARCH IN THE RICE

GAVE THE MORTAR
ITS EXTRA STRENGTH.

COLIN MIXES HIS FRESH
MORTAR USING LIME, SAND,

AND HIS SPECIALLY
PREPARED STICKY RICE WATER.

Richards: WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS
TRY TO LAY A BED OF MORTAR

SO THAT THE MORTAR SPREADS
TO THE EDGES.

IF IT'S TOO THICK,
IT WON'T DO THAT.

IF IT'S TOO WET,
IT JUST SPILLS OVER THE SIDES.

SO GETTING IT ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT IS CRITICAL

TO THE QUALITY OF THE MORTAR.

Narrator:
WORKING LIKE THIS,

THE WALL BUILDERS
COULD STACK BRICKS HIGH

AND BUILD THE THOUSANDS
OF TALL TOWERS

NEEDED TO SHELTER
THE GREAT WALL'S

VAST STANDING ARMY.

THESE FIGHTING MEN,
FAR AWAY FROM CIVILIZATION,

STOOD ALONE
AGAINST NOMAD ATTACK.

WILLIAM LINDESAY IS EXPLORING

HOW THE WALL'S ARCHITECTURE
KEPT THE MEN SAFE,

EVEN WHEN THE NOMADS INVADED.

JUST IMAGINE,
YOU'RE A CHINESE DEFENDER.

HERE YOU STAND.

AS AN ATTACKER,
I DON'T STAND A CHANCE.

THE DEFENDER IS
SIX FEET ABOVE ME.

SWITCH POSITION.

GOT THE HEIGHT ADVANTAGE.

LEFT HAND THE SHIELD,

HERE, THE SWORD,
A SPEAR, A CUDGEL.

THIS IS REALLY A BRILLIANT
ACCESSORY FORTIFICATION.

Narrator:
BUT HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT
WASN'T THE ONLY FORM OF DEFENSE.

CHINESE TECHNOLOGICAL PROWESS
PROVIDED THE SOLDIERS

WITH A FORMIDABLE
ARSENAL OF WEAPONS.

THIS TERRACE IS ACTUALLY
A CANNON PLATFORM.

OF COURSE, THE CANNON'S GONE,

BUT THE BARREL WOULD BE HERE.

YOU MIGHT THINK THIS BIG BOOMER

IS THE MOST DEVASTATING
WEAPON ON THE WALL.

ACTUALLY, IT CREATES
A LOT OF NOISE.

IT HAS THE FEAR FACTOR,

BUT IT TAKES SO LONG TO RELOAD.

SO SLOW AND SO FINICKY
IN THE WINDY, WET WEATHER.

IT'S ACTUALLY NOT
THE MOST RELIABLE WEAPON.

Narrator: FOR SOMETHING MORE
VERSATILE THAN THE CANNON,

THE SOLDIERS ON THE WALL
EMPLOYED A FAR MORE ACCURATE

AND DEADLY TOOL...

...THE CROSSBOW.

[ BOW CREAKING ]

THIS FEROCIOUS WEAPON
WAS MORE THAN A MATCH

FOR THE NOMAD'S COMPOSITE BOWS,

AND IT WAS THE WEAPON OF CHOICE
FOR THE CHINESE SOLDIERS

MANNING THE WALL.

YANG FUXI HAS A COPY

OF THE CROSSBOW'S
TRIGGER MECHANISM,

A WONDER OF ITS AGE.

THE CROSSBOW TRIGGER WAS THE
WORLD'S FIRST MECHANICAL WEAPON.

IT RELEASED THE BOLT
IN A SPLIT SECOND TO FIRE

WITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY.

SOLDIERS OFTEN DIPPED
BOLTS IN POISON

TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN
A SCRATCH WAS FATAL.

[ MAN SCREAMS ]

THE WATCH TOWERS
PROTRUDED FROM THE WALL.

THIS WAY, ITS DEFENDERS
COULD CATCH ATTACKERS

IN A DEADLY CROSSFIRE.

[ MEN SHOUTING ]

BEHIND THE WALL BATTLEMENTS,
SOLDIERS DROPPED STONE BOMBS

AND FIRED CANNONS.

[ EXPLOSIONS ]

BUT THE CROSSBOW WAS STILL
THE WEAPON OF CHOICE.

THE CHINESE CREATED
AN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION LINE

TO CAST CROSSBOW TRIGGERS
BY THE THOUSANDS.

ITS INCREDIBLE DESIGN
MEANT THAT THE CHINESE

COULD DEPLOY
A VAST ARMY OF SOLDIERS

WHO COULD OPERATE THE CROSSBOW

WITHOUT EITHER
SKILL OR STRENGTH.

BUT WEAPONS ALONE
COULDN'T DETER THE RAIDERS.

CLANDESTINE MEASURES
WOULD BE NECESSARY.

Narrator: THE GREAT WALL
OF CHINA WAS

STRATEGICALLY DESIGNED
FOR SOLDIERS

AND THEIR WEAPONS OF WAR.

THIS HOLE WAS FOR
ANCHORING THE CROSSBOW.

A STANDARD BOW MOUNTED

ON A STOCK,
UNDERNEATH IS A KNOB.

IT GOES IN THERE,
AND IT ALLOWS THE USER

TO QUICKLY LEAVE A BACK RELOAD,

WAIT UNTIL HE SEES
HIS TARGET, AND FIRE.

Narrator:
BUT THE MIGHTY CROSSBOW

COULD ONLY PROTECT
THE WARRIORS FOR SO LONG.

ISOLATED IN SMALL WATCH TOWERS
HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS

AND DEEP IN THE DESERTS...

...THE SOLDIERS WERE SOMETIMES

IN NEED OF SUPPORT
FROM THEIR COMRADES.

SO, IMAGINE BEING
A CHINESE SOLDIER

STATIONED ON THE WALL.

SUDDENLY OVER THE HORIZON
COMES 300,

400 HORSEMEN WITH DUST
TRAILING BEHIND THEM.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER
WHAT ON EARTH THEY WOULD DO

WHEN THEY SAW
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

Narrator: GREAT WALL EXPLORER
RICHARD FAIRBROTHER

IS AT THE EDGE
OF THE GOBI DESERT.

HE'S LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE
OF THE INTELLIGENCE NETWORK

THAT KEPT THE MEN
IN THE WATCH TOWERS CONNECTED.

OVER THE CREST OF THIS HILL
IS AN ANCIENT BEACON TOWER,

AND THE SOLDIERS ON THE BEACON
TOWERS HAD ONE JOB,

AND THAT WAS TO LOOK OUT
FOR THE ENEMY,

AND WHEN YOU SAW THEM COMING,
RAISE THE ALARM.

Narrator: THE CHINESE NEEDED
A WAY TO DEFEND

AGAINST THE NOMADS'
LIGHTNING SPEED.

THEIR SOLUTION -- SIGNALING.

EACH OF THESE FLAGS
REPRESENTED 500 HORSEMEN.

AND SO IN THIS CASE,
YOU HAVE THREE FLAGS.

SO THAT MEANS 1,500 HORSEMEN
COMING ON THE HORIZON.

Narrator: THE SIGNALING SYSTEM
ALLOWED CHINESE INTELLIGENCE

TO TRACK THE NOMADS'
RAPID MOVEMENTS.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THE GUYS
AT THE NEXT TOWER

ARE PAYING ATTENTION
AND NOTICE

THAT THERE'S 1,500 WARRIORS
COMING ACROSS THE HORIZON.

Narrator: THE TOWER GUARDS
WOULD ALSO SEND SMOKE SIGNALS

TO RAM THE MESSAGE HOME.

THIS RAPID RESPONSE
TO A NOMAD ATTACK

WAS CRUCIAL
TO THE DEFENSE OF THE WALL

AND TO THE DEFENSE OF CHINA.

Fairbrother: GREAT WALL'S NOT
JUST A DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE.

IT'S ALSO PART OF
AN INTELLIGENCE NETWORK.

ON THAT SIDE,
NOMADIC WARRIORS

CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR PLACES

THAT THEY CAN ATTACK
WITH SURPRISE.

AND ON THE WALL,
THE CHINESE SOLDIERS

LOOKING OUT FOR THE SIGNS
OF THAT ATTACK.

IF THEY SEE IT,
THEY RAISE THE ALARM DOWN

THE NETWORK OF BEACON TOWERS.

Narrator: THIS SYSTEM
OF WATCH TOWERS

AND SIGNALING STATIONS
NEEDED TO BE IMPENETRABLE.

STRETCHING RIGHT ALONG
CHINA'S NORTHERN FRONTIER

TO ITS END POINT 72 FEET
INTO THE YELLOW SEA.

THANKS TO ITS
INGENIOUS DESIGN,

THIS STRUCTURE
IS STILL STANDING.

KNOWN AS THE DRAGON'S HEAD,
SOLID GRANITE STRIPS,

EACH WEIGHING OVER THREE TONS,

PROVIDE THE BULK
TO FIGHT OFF THE WAVES.

IRON CLAMPS LOCK THEM
SECURELY TOGETHER.

AND JOINTS CARVED
INTO THE STONES

FIXED THE LAYERS TIGHT

TO STOP THEM DRIFTING
WITH THE TIDE.

NINE LAYERS OF STONE BLOCKS
STAND AGAINST THE CRASHING WAVES

TO ENSURE INVADERS
CAN'T GET AROUND.

THIS NEARLY 50-FOOT-HIGH TOWER

IS A MONUMENTAL END
TO THE GREAT WALL.

THE WALL AND ITS SIGNALING
SYSTEM WERE CONNECTED

FROM THIS OCEAN FORTRESS
IN THE EAST

TO THE DESERTS IN THE WEST.

IT MEANT THAT THE CHINESE ARMY

WAS FULLY PREPARED
TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

SOLDIERS WOULD BE MANNING
THE BATTLEMENTS

WITH THEIR BOWS
AND THEIR CROSSBOWS,

UNLEASHING SHOWERS OF ARROWS

AND CROSSBOW BOLTS
DOWN ON THE ENEMY.

Narrator: BUT IN THE MIDST
OF A DEADLY ATTACK,

HOW WERE REINFORCEMENTS
ABLE TO REACH THESE REMOTE

WATCH TOWERS IN TIME?

Narrator:
THE GREAT WALL WAS BUILT
AS A DEFENSIVE SHIELD

STRETCHING ACROSS
THE VAST LAND OF CHINA.

BUT WHEN UNDER ATTACK,

HOW DID CHINESE REINFORCEMENTS

GET TO ISOLATED WATCH TOWERS
ATOP SUCH TOUGH TERRAIN?

ONE OF THE PRIMARY JOBS
OF THE GUARDS IN TOWERS

LIKE THAT WAS TO WATCH
FOR THE ENEMY.

AS SOON AS THEY WERE SPOTTED,

MAKE AN ALARM SIGNAL
TO SUMMON REINFORCEMENTS

TO THIS LOCATION.

Narrator: GREAT WALL HISTORIAN
WILLIAM LINDESAY

IS WALKING THE WALL
AT JIANKOU NORTH OF BEIJING.

HE'S LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE

THAT REVEALS HOW TROOPS
MANEUVERED TO FIGHT OFF RAIDS

AT THE TOP OF MOUNTAIN RIDGES.

PEOPLE OFTEN LOOK AT THIS,
AND THEY SAY,

"COME ON, THEY DIDN'T NEED
A DEFENSE WALL THERE.

NO ONE IS GONNA
ATTACK THIS SPOT."

I AGREE, YOU CAN
REALLY APPRECIATE

THAT MORE AS YOU'RE
STANDING UNDER IT.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S JUST CLINGING
TO THE CLIFF FACE.

Narrator: SO WHY DID THE CHINESE
BUILD THE WALL

ON THIS STEEP STRETCH?

DID IT HAVE ANOTHER PURPOSE?

THAT IS A MISSING LINK.

IT'S TO JOIN UP THE WALL HERE,

THE WALL OVER THERE,
THE WALL OVER THERE.

IT MAKES THE BORDER WALL
INTO A BORDER ROAD SYSTEM.

Narrator: WILLIAM BELIEVES
THE WALL WAS A ROADWAY

THAT GAVE SUPPORT TROOPS

IMMEDIATE ACCESS
TO SOLDIERS UNDER ATTACK.

THIS CONVERTED THE WALL
INTO A VAST TRANSPORT NETWORK.

[ WIND RUSHING ]

IT EXTENDED THOUSANDS OF MILES
TO CHINA'S WESTERN DESERT,

WHERE IT PERFORMED
ITS FINAL FUNCTION:

TO PROTECT CHINESE TRADE.

THE ANCIENT TRADING
ROUTE CALLED THE SILK ROAD

STRETCHED THROUGH
THE FAR WEST OF CHINA.

THE ROAD WAS THE NATION'S
LINK TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

RICHARD FAIRBROTHER IS
DRIVING ALONG THE SILK ROAD,

HUNTING OUT ITS CONNECTIONS
TO THE GREAT WALL.

LIKE SILK ROAD TRAVELERS
OF THE PAST,

HE PICKS UP SUPPLIES
AT THE MARKET IN DUNHUANG...

...AND HEADS OUT INTO THE HARSH
COLD OF THE WESTERN DESERT.

HE'S LOOKING FOR
A DESERT FORTRESS.

THAT'S AWESOME.

THIS AMAZING FORT IS
OVER 2,000 YEARS OLD.

IT'S RIGHT ON THE SILK ROAD.

IT'S CALLED SHANMACHUNG,

WHICH LITERALLY TRANSLATES
AS "HORSE CASTRATION FORT."

IT'S IN A GLORIOUS LOCATION
WITH HUGE MOUNTAINS

AND THIS RIVER THAT'S RIPPED
THE SIDE OF THE FORT AWAY.

AND IT WAS A PLACE
WHERE HORSES WERE CASTRATED

BEFORE BEING ACCEPTED
BY THE CHINESE EMPIRE

IN TRADE FOR TEA.

Narrator:
THE GREAT WALL AND THE FORTS

ALONGSIDE IT KEPT THE TRADERS
ALONG THE SILK ROAD SAFE.

Fairbrother: THE TRADE ALONG
THE SILK ROAD WAS CRUCIAL

TO THE CHINESE EMPIRE,

AND THAT'S WHY THEY BUILT
THE GREAT WALL

AND ALL OF THESE FORTS
DOTTED ALONG IT.

Narrator:
BUT INVITING FOREIGN TRADERS

INTO THEIR FORTS
MADE THE CHINESE VULNERABLE.

DESPITE THEIR ENTHUSIASM
FOR COMMERCE,

THE CHINESE WERE WARY
THAT FOREIGN TRADERS

MIGHT ACTUALLY BE NOMAD SPIES.

SO THEY DESIGNED THEIR FORTS

SO THAT JUST ONE FALSE MOVE
WOULD RESULT IN A GRUESOME END.

BELOW THE GATEHOUSE, A NARROW
PASSAGE FUNNELED VISITORS

INTO THE FEARED
PASSAGEWAYS OF DEATH.

THE WALLS CREATED A MAZE
FOR THE INTRUDERS TO NAVIGATE.

TRAVERSING RIGHT-ANGLED TURNS,

FORCING THEM INTO
THE CONFINED COURTYARD...

THIS NEARLY 33-FOOT-TALL TRAP

WAS DEADLY
FOR UNWANTED VISITORS.

AS GUARDS ON THE PARAPETS
LOOMED ABOVE WITH WEAPONS,

THIS WAS THE PERFECT GATEWAY
TO PROTECT CHINA'S LAND.

THE GREAT WALL WAS A MONUMENTAL
PIECE OF MILITARY ENGINEERING

THAT ALLOWED CHINA TO FACE
DOWN THE TERROR FROM THE NORTH.

JUST LOOKING AT THE WALL

AND SEEING HOW IT SNAKES
OVER THESE MOUNTAINTOPS,

YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS
AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT.

IT GOES ACROSS CHINA.

Lindesay: THIS IS THE WORLD'S
MOST LABOR-INTENSIVE,

MATERIAL-CONSUMING,

AND TIME-CONSUMING CONSTRUCTION
IN OUR HISTORY.

I REALLY BELIEVE IT IS THE
ULTIMATE WONDER OF THE WORLD.

¶¶

I LOVE THE GREAT WALL.

I MIGHT SOUND A BIT NERDY,
BUT I HAVE A SAYING:

"IF YOU'RE TIRED
OF THE GREAT WALL,

YOU'RE TIRED OF LIFE."

Narrator: THE GREAT WALL
PROTECTED CHINA'S FARMERS...

...AND PROJECTED THE NATION'S
IMPERIAL POWER ALONG THE WORLD'S

MOST IMPORTANT TRADE ROUTE.

THE FEELING OF HISTORY,
OF BEING HERE,

BEING PERHAPS THE ONLY PERSON
WHO'S BEEN HERE IN SOME TIME,

IS HARD TO DESCRIBE.

IT'S JUST AWESOME.

Narrator: FROM A SELF-CEMENTING
EARTH WALL

TO AN IMPENETRABLE LINE
OF BRICK FORTIFICATIONS,

DEFENSIVE BATTLEMENTS,
DEADLY MAZES,

AND A WALKWAY
THAT EXPANDS A COUNTRY,

COMBINE TO CREATE
THE ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT

IN MILITARY ARCHITECTURE...

AT ONE OF THE MOST
AWE-INSPIRING STRUCTURES

EVER CREATED.