China strengthens protection of Great Wall amidst human-caused threats

In response to growing concerns over the deteriorating state of the Great Wall, China's cultural heritage authorities issued a circular recently outlining enhanced measures to safeguard this iconic structure.

The Great Wall faces multifaceted threats, encompassing human factors such as improper protection methods, illegal industrial projects, disorderly tourism development, and the impact of natural weathering.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration has directed lower-level authorities to collaborate with other local government departments in conducting comprehensive surveys and categorizing Great Wall resources. Specific plans for protection must be devised in coordination with these departments.

Emphasizing the preservation of sections that still feature buildings, the directive urges efforts to maintain structural integrity and preserve historical information. For areas where buildings have collapsed or disappeared, the focus should be on preserving the site as it stands, clearly marked, with strict prohibitions on rebuilding or large-scale restoration.

Concerning tourism development, the administration mandates cautious planning, discouraging haphazard infrastructure projects like footpaths, parking lots, tourist centers, and museums. Ticket revenues generated from Great Wall tourism should be dedicated entirely to the preservation efforts, ensuring a sustainable approach.

The administration has ordered more management efforts, including increased monitoring, patrolling, and stringent project approval processes. Timely reporting of actions that may jeopardize the Great Wall is mandated, and those responsible for damage should be held accountable.

This directive coincides with recent cases of Great Wall sections suffering damage. Notably, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment uncovered five cases during ecological inspections, including the government of Xinxiang in Henan province accused of inadequate oversight on sand and stone mining, resulting in damage to sections of the Zhao Great Wall, dating back to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

The Zhao Great Wall, believed to be the oldest existing section predating Emperor Qinshihuang's large-scale construction in 214 BC, holds significant historical value despite its current state of ruin.

However, only 855 meters remained out of a 3-kilometer section in Weihui city of Xinxiang due to illegal mining, according to a report by China Environment News, which is managed by the ministry.

Furthermore, the investigations revealed that the local government approved the mining activities without consulting cultural heritage departments, and the company involved failed to report encountering the historical site.

This incident echoes a similar case in 2018, where an illegal wind power project damaged 756 meters of the Zhao Great Wall in Huixian, another city of Xinxiang. More than 20 local officials were punished, and four people were criminally detained and later given prison terms.

And in September this year, two people were detained in Shanxi province for damaging a section of the Great Wall with an excavator.

A man surnamed Zheng and a woman surnamed Wang used the excavator to widen a gap on a section of the No 32 Great Wall in Youyu county in late August. The wall, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was damaged beyond repair.

The two people, who were contracted to work on a construction project nearby, admitted to using the excavator to make it easier for them to pass through the wall. They have been charged with destroying a cultural relic.

The Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of China's most iconic landmarks.