The Great Wall of China has been a central motif in Chinese literature and art for over two millennia, but its symbolic meaning has shifted dramatically. In ancient poetry, it was often a symbol of sorrow, representing the hardship of the soldiers who guarded it and the families they left behind. During the 20th century, particularly under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the wall was reimagined as a symbol of national unity, strength, and the enduring spirit of the Chinese people. Famous ink-wash paintings often depict the wall winding through misty mountains to signify the harmony between man-made structures and the natural landscape. Today, it is one of the most painted and photographed structures in the world, representing both the historical isolation of China and its current status as a global superpower.