Since the first construction of the Great Wall, the walls of northern China were made of bricks and stones. They were generally, at first, piles of dirt and rocks. Then, during its reconstruction and expansion under the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall of China acquired a more solid appearance through the systematic use of bricks and stones. Seen in section, it is wider at the bottom than at the top and its walls are slightly inclined. The wall has an average width of , with a maximum of in some places; and an average height of , with a maximum of .[1]​.

The splendor of this wall built for military purposes under different dynasties, such as the Hans and the Mings, was achieved thanks to the work of thousands of men, over several generations and at significant expenses for the Chinese State of the time. "A labor policy was necessary in such a gigantic company."[2]​.

To successfully build such an infrastructure, it is necessary to discuss the administrative structure. In fact, a rational system of organization and supervision was necessary. "Some tasks were divided and distributed among garrison areas; in other places, large contingents were assembled to tackle entire portions of work."[2]

The materials come from different places and come in different forms. In fact, earth, stone, wood and tiles are the main materials used in the construction of the Great Wall. "It was built according to various methods, depending on time and place: large blocks of dry stone, layers of clay, solid bricks, thanks to the presence of rice flour, like our current concretes."[1]​.

Brick does not arrive until later in the Ming dynasty. Most of the time, the materials used for the Great Wall come from the construction site. "In the mountains, stone; in the field or in the loess, compacted earth; in the Gobi desert, layers of sand alternating with pebbles, tamarisk branches and reeds...".[2]​.

The bricks could be made by hand, with ovens. "A recent archaeological discovery in Qinhuangdao has revealed 51 brick kilns that were used to make the gray bricks of the Great Wall. The diameter kilns are of three different types."[3]​.

The kilns were thus built locally along particularly difficult to access locations. "The water poured into a hole in the upper part of the kiln caused the ceramic to glaze."[2]​.

The materials were transported using various means of transportation. The most important was the use of human resources. In single file, the workers transferred what they needed to the desired location. The use of the wheelbarrow and techniques such as leverage and seesaws were important on flat terrain. Animals are mentioned, but they were not used in large numbers. "Saddlebags on the backs of donkeys, bricks attached to the horns of goats... the animals were carried up the slope."[3]​.