<P> Later dynasties adopted different policies towards northern frontier defense . The Han ( 202 BC -- 220 AD ) , the Northern Qi ( 550 -- 574 ) , the Sui ( 589 -- 618 ) , and particularly the Ming ( 1369 -- 1644 ) were among those that rebuilt , re-manned , and expanded the Walls , although they rarely followed Qin 's routes . The Han extended the fortifications furthest to the west , the Qi built about 1,600 kilometres ( 990 mi ) of new walls , while the Sui mobilised over a million men in their wall - building efforts . Conversely , the Tang ( 618 -- 907 ) , the Song ( 960 -- 1279 ) , the Yuan ( 1271 -- 1368 ) , and the Qing ( 1644 -- 1911 ) mostly did not build frontier walls , instead opting for other solutions to the Inner Asian threat like military campaigning and diplomacy . </P>
<P> Later dynasties adopted different policies towards northern frontier defense . The Han ( 202 BC -- 220 AD ) , the Northern Qi ( 550 -- 574 ) , the Sui ( 589 -- 618 ) , and particularly the Ming ( 1369 -- 1644 ) were among those that rebuilt , re-manned , and expanded the Walls , although they rarely followed Qin 's routes . The Han extended the fortifications furthest to the west , the Qi built about 1,600 kilometres ( 990 mi ) of new walls , while the Sui mobilised over a million men in their wall - building efforts . Conversely , the Tang ( 618 -- 907 ) , the Song ( 960 -- 1279 ) , the Yuan ( 1271 -- 1368 ) , and the Qing ( 1644 -- 1911 ) mostly did not build frontier walls , instead opting for other solutions to the Inner Asian threat like military campaigning and diplomacy . </P>
which chinese dynasty did the most work on the great wall
which chinese dynasty did the most work on the great wall
the Ming
the Ming