What Does Great Firewall of China (GFW) Mean? The Great Firewall of China is a term used to refer to the infrastructure of the Chinese leadership in controlling web traffic within the country. It is a play on words based on the renowned Great Wall of China, the massive structure built to protect the Northern edges of the kingdom from invaders. In actuality, the Great Firewall of China is more than just a firewall; it reflects the country's political philosophy and strategic controls on the World Wide Web.