Back to List of improvements in Civ7
The Ming Great Wall is a unique tile improvement of the Ming civilization in Civilization VII and its expansions.
- Effects:
- +5
Culture. - +1 Gold for each adjacent Fortification.
- Counts as a Fortification, providing units +6 Combat Strength when defending.
- +5
- Restrictions:
- Can only be built in a line. Cannot branch or fork.
Strategy[]
Since the Ming Great Wall is a later variant of the Han Great Wall, most of the placement, planning, and general strategy remain the same. For this reason, it is advisable to first review the Han Great Wall strategy before considering its replacement with the Ming Great Wall.
Differences and considerations[]
The key difference between the two is that the Ming Great Wall provides greater yields, offering more 
Culture and 
Gold instead of 
Happiness. While the increased Culture is rarely a strong reason to prioritize rebuilding over an existing Han Great Wall, the additional Gold can be a compelling factor. This means that when upgrading from the Han Great Wall, the primary consideration is converting Happiness bonuses into Gold, which may not always justify the 
Production investment — especially if your civilization is in an unstable state. Additionally, Han and Ming Great Walls do not connect with each other — since connected sections provide greater bonuses, fully replacing an existing Han Great Wall is often necessary to gain any real benefit from the transition.
If your civilization is engaged in frequent conflicts or under threat of war, keeping the Han Great Wall is usually the better choice, as its Happiness bonus helps mitigate war weariness penalties. On the other hand, if Happiness is not a concern, the Ming Great Wall can significantly boost your economy, allowing for faster army production in times of need.
In peaceful and stable conditions, the Gold yields from the Ming Great Wall are generally more valuable than Happiness, making it a strong economic asset. However, upgrading an already complete Han Great Wall is rarely a priority over constructing new important buildings or wonders. If a Han Great Wall is incomplete or absent, investing in the Ming Great Wall is highly recommended, as it enhances economic strength, culture, and security — all valuable assets in any Age and situation.
Synergy with Wonders[]
Both the Han and Ming Great Wall improvements have excellent synergy with the Serpent Mound wonder, which enhances them by providing additional 
Science and Production yields. This turns the Great Wall into a powerful, multi-purpose economic asset rather than just a defensive structure, making it especially valuable in well-developed 
Cities.
The Forbidden City is another wonder to consider, since it is cheaper and sooner available for the Ming. While it does not directly impact the Ming Great Wall, it boosts Gold yields on regular walls. By strategically placing Ming Great Wall improvements near these walls, this synergy can further amplify your civilization's economic strength, potentially turning it into an economic powerhouse.
Civilopedia entry[]
After the fall of the Han dynasty, the Great Wall was relatively neglected until the rise of the Ming. Like their forebears, the Ming again faced a threat from the North in the form of the Mongols. In 1421, the capital was moved to Beijing to address the conflict head-on, and Ming emperors began to fortify the territory around the city by renovating the old walls and building new ones better positioned to the current situation.
Unlike the Han, who used the Great Wall in their offensive strategy, the Ming employed the wall as a defensive structure, building it behind their existing borders as a final bastion against invasion. They invested more time and money into the building process, using stone and brick to build walls and strengthen older rammed earth sections. These techniques enabled walls to be built on steeper inclines, taking advantage of more advantageous terrain; the use of stone also permitting the inclusion of additional defensive flourishes like crenelations and arrow loops.
Although the Great Wall delayed the onset of their Manchu conquerors, it ultimately could not save the Ming from their fate. Still, their structures remain the most famous, and most visited, sites on the Wall today, a lasting legacy of strength that has come to symbolize China’s illustrious history.
Gallery[]
See also[]
- (Ming) Great Wall in other games
| Civilization VII Improvements [edit] | |
|---|---|
| Standard | |
| Unique | |
| City-State | |
| 1 Requires DLC | |