Lego-Build the Great Wall of China
Use LEGO bricks to build a model of the Great Wall of China, practicing planning, measuring, and learning about its history and design.
Step-by-step guide to build the Great Wall of China with LEGO
The Great Wall of China buildable in LEGO bricks from LEGO Architecture
Step 1
Gather all your LEGO bricks and place them on a clear table so you can see every piece.
Step 2
Look at a reference picture of the Great Wall for one minute to notice towers and the long winding shape.
Step 3
Draw a simple floor plan on paper showing how long your wall will be and where a few towers will go.
Step 4
Place your LEGO base plate on the table where you will build the model.
Step 5
Mark the start and end points of the wall on the base plate with a single brick at each point.
Step 6
Use a ruler to measure the distance between your start and end bricks and write that number on your plan.
Step 7
Build a two-brick-high continuous foundation along the marked line on the base plate.
Step 8
Stack bricks taller at the spots you marked to make watchtowers.
Step 9
Add battlements along the top by placing bricks with gaps to look like crenellations.
Step 10
Build hills or a little river beside the wall using extra bricks to show the landscape.
Step 11
Write one short historical fact about the Great Wall on a small piece of paper.
Step 12
Attach the paper fact sign to your model using a small brick or a bit of tape.
Step 13
Share a photo and description of your finished Great Wall model on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a LEGO base plate, ruler, or a small brick to attach the paper fact sign?
Use a piece of sturdy cardboard or a baking tray as a substitute base plate, measure the start-to-end distance by lining up standard bricks or a folded sheet of paper instead of a ruler, and attach the paper fact with a paperclip, sticky tack, or a small piece of tape if you don't have an extra small brick.
My wall keeps falling over when I build the two-brick-high foundation and towers — how do I fix that?
Rebuild the two-brick-high continuous foundation using longer plates or base-length bricks for stability, interlock bricks so seams don't line up, press each brick firmly onto the base, and widen or reinforce watchtower bases by one brick to prevent leaning.
How can I adapt this activity for different age groups?
For preschoolers use Duplo or larger bricks with a one-brick-high foundation and a parent-drawn floor plan, for early elementary follow the original steps with help measuring the distance, and for older kids add multiple base plates, hinge bricks for curves, ruler-measured scale, and more detailed watchtowers.
How can we extend or personalize our finished Great Wall LEGO model?
Add minifigures and flags to towers, build extra hills and a river beside the wall as in the instructions using spare bricks, place several small paper fact signs along the model instead of just one, or join extra base plates to lengthen the wall and vary battlement colors for a personalized look.
Watch videos on how to build the Great Wall of China with LEGO
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Facts about LEGO model building and the Great Wall of China
📏 Because the Wall spans thousands of kilometers, model builders usually recreate a short, detailed section at a smaller scale instead of the whole thing.
🕰️ Construction began as early as the 7th century BC and continued through many dynasties, with the Ming dynasty doing major rebuilding (1368–1644).
🐉 The "Great Wall" is actually many walls and fortifications built at different times, not one continuous, unbroken structure.
🧱 The Great Wall of China measures about 21,196 km (13,171 miles) when all its branches are counted—longer than many countries!
🧩 The modern LEGO brick design was patented in 1958—its famous "clutch power" is what lets models stay together during play.
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