The Great Wall stretches from Dandong in the east to Lop Lake in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the edge of Inner Mongolia. A comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has concluded that the Ming walls measure 8,850 km (5,500 mi). This is made up of 6,259 km (3,889 mi) sections of actual wall, 359 km (223 mi) of trenches and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers. Another archaeological survey found that the entire wall with all of its branches measures out to be 21,196 km (13,171 mi).
Today, the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history and receives literally millions of visitors a year, including 2012 Calgary Stampede Indian Princess Amelia Crowshoe, who visited China twice during her reign.