Introduction

The Great Wall of Qi State (1044-221 B.C., a subinfeudated state during the Zhou Dynasty, Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period) was built in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.) and was completed in the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). It took more than 170 years to be finished and till now it has a history of more than 2600 years. Among all existing Great Walls in China, it is the most ancient and the most well preserved Great Wall, with archeologically accurate traces for proof and test. It is known as the "Father of all Great Walls."

The Great Wall of the Qi State is one of the most well preserved sites among the various Great Walls built by the states during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It is built in the rolling hills and flat valleys of the Taishan-Yishan Mountain Ranges, starting from Pingyin County in the west, through Feicheng City, Jinan Municipality, Laiwu District of Jinan Municipality, Boshan District of Zibo Municipality, Linqu County, Yishui County, Anqiu City, Qixian County, Wulian County, and entering the sea via Jiaozhou City. The total length of The Great Wall of the Qi State is more than 600 kilometers. It is condensed with the industriousness and wisdom of the working people of China 2500 years ago, and reflects the prosperity and glory of the Qi State as the first powerful chief of the states during the Spring and Autumn Period, one of Seven Powers during the Warring States Period, and a great state in the east part of the world. The Great Wall of the Qi State falls into three cities in Weifang, i.e. Linqu, Anqiu and Zhucheng.

The Great Wall of the Qi State has a main line and a supporting line in Linqu. The main line of Linqu part of the Great Wall of the Qi State starts from Dragon King Gu (mountain with a flat top and precipitous sides) to the west, enters Weifang Municipality from Yiyuan County, passes Daguanzhuang Village, North Taiping Mountain to come to Anqiu City. The supporting line takes the Nanshan Mountain of Yiquan Village as the starting point, comes to the Dongshan Mountain of Shaojiayu Valley, and enters the territory of Yishui County. All together, the two lines totals 64.89 kilometers, accounting for 1/10 of the total length of the Great Wall of the Qi State. The length of the preserved wall is 37.73 kilometers, taking 1/9 of the total length of the existing Great Wall of the Qi State, passing through 156 hills and more than 40 villages. Linqu part of the Great Wall of the Qi State is 99.8% made of earthwork or a mixture of earth and stone, and only a few sections are made of stone blocks.

The Anqiu part of the Great Wall of the Qi State starts from the south west, namely Taipingshan Mountain at the junction of Linqu and Yishui, passes along the junction to the east, and enters the city completely after the Qingshihutong. Then it turns east and south to the Wuhe River to be outside Anqiu. It connects with the second section of the supporting line of Yishui part of the Great Wall of the Qi State, passes main peaks such as Shimending Mountain, Shihushan Mountain, Moshan Mountain, Dacheshan Mountain, Zicaoshan Mountain, Chengdingshan Mountain and Zhaiyaoshan Mountain. It has a total length of 46.5 kilometers and has passed 75 hills, among which 39 kilometers are with relics, making 83.7% of the total length. Most of the materials used for construction are locally sourced, either using stone blocks or using sand, or making use of the mountain cliffs as the fort.

The length of the Great Wall of the Qi in Zhucheng City is about 50 kilometers, passing through 42 villages in 4 towns, i.e, Zhigou, Huanghua, Taolin and Linjiacun. In 1987, it was listed by the United Nations as a World Heritage. In 2001, the State Council announced it as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The Zhucheng part of the Great Wall of the Qi State begins at Huala Mountain, 2500 meters southwest of Shangzhuang Village, Haogezhuang Town, stretches to the east along Huala Mountain, passes through Shirenshan Mountain, south of Shangzhuang Village, Haogezhuang Town Qiquanshan Mountain, south of Yejiagou Village, Mayangshan Mountain, Dagoushan Mountain, and Xiaogoushan Mountain, south of Zhuanshancun Village, and comes to Nanling Mountain of Hanjiagou Village. The above section of the relics of the Great Wall of the Qi State is also the dividing line between Zhucheng and Wulian.

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