The Great Wall extends 10,000 li (5,000 km) - that's a popular Chinese saying, but it is not true.

Researchers released on the weekend the latest evidence of the length of the Wall, mostly built or restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644): It stretches 8,851.8 km, significantly longer than previous estimates.

The latest findings are based on a two-year mapping and investigation jointly conducted by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) and the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM).