Chinese scientists have discovered more than 130 secret passages in the Great Wall of China. The Chinese news agency "Xinhua" indicates that the researchers managed to identify these passages through the study of ultra-high-resolution images of the Great Wall, one of the wonders of the world, with a measurement precision down to one centimeter. Subsequent analysis of the images and visits to the locations of the gates of these passages revealed that each secret passage was designed to blend well with the surrounding local terrain.
But what is the purpose of these secret passages in what is considered a defensive fortress? Scientists believe these passages were designated for the movement of explorers and scouts. Some were intended for communication between the inner and outer parts of the Great Wall, and some gates were historically used for trade. According to official documents from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), nomadic tribes were allowed to use these passages to transport animals between Qinghai in northwest China and the water- and grass-rich Huitao region. This is further supported by the fact that some secret gates are wide enough to allow two horses to pass in opposite directions simultaneously.
Professor Zhang Yukun, head of the research team, states, "All of this helps us to prove that the Great Wall was not completely closed but rather 'open' under a specific system." This will also aid us in understanding how the Great Wall functioned. The research team discovered exits for these passages on the other side of the wall. It is noted that the Great Wall of China, which extends over 20,000 kilometers, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of a series of interconnected walls.
