【明報專訊】Perhaps the most recognisable symbol of China and its long and vivid history, the Great Wall (萬里長城) actually consists of numerous walls and fortifications (防禦工事), many running parallel to each other. Originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇)(259-210 BC) in the third century BC as a means of preventing incursions (入侵.) from barbarian nomads (游牧民族) into the Chinese Empire.