Great Wall

Design for the Fortifications

The Great Wall has three major components: passes, signal towers (beacons), and walls. The design of each of these features has been determined by strategic importance.

Passes

As major strongholds along the wall, passes usually are located at key positions such as intersections with trade routes.
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Signal Towers 

Signal towers, also known as beacons, beacon terraces, smoke mounds (because of the various substances, including wolf dung, that were burnt), mounds, or kiosks.
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Walls

The body of the wall usually stood 21.3 feet (6.5 metres) wide at the base and 19 feet (5.8 metres) at the top, with an average height of 23 to 26 feet (7 to 8 metres), or a bit lower on steep hills.
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