Cultural relic prepares to handle more tourists

More sections of the Great Wall are undergoing repair and renovation to prepare for the increasing number of tourists from home and abroad, said authorities in Beijing.

The capital plans to open the Huanghuacheng and Hefangkou sections of the Great Wall after renovation and the addition of necessary protection and safety facilities.

The sections open to the public at Mutianyu and Badaling will also be extended to accommodate the ever increasing tourists, said Kong Fanzhi, chief of the city's cultural relics bureau.

"The move is to better protect the ancient relics by diverting the visitors and reducing the load on the ancient fortifications that are currently open to tourists," said Kong.

At present, four parts of the ancient fortifications in Beijing are available to tourists: the Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Juyongguan sections.

There is no date for the opening of the new sections, said Yin Jun, an official of the bureau.

According to Wang Jingjing, a tour guide in the capital, the excessive tourists not only put too much pressure on the national relic but also reduce its charm.

"You see nothing but huge crowds of people," she said. "Opening more sections will allow more people to appreciate the national relic."

According to Kong, the popularity of the ancient wall has brought a mounting number of tourists from all over the world, which has become a burden to the national relic, especially during weekends and holidays.

In addition, more and more tourists are climbing sections of the Great Wall that are not open to the public, resulting in serious damage to them.

Kong said the capital has been investing millions of yuan as a special fund to repair the Great Wall.

According to Wang Yuwei, director of department of the preservation of cultural relics of the bureau, most of the 60 km of the Great Wall in the capital has been preserved in good condition.

Yin said the capital has discovered some sections that were hidden in the deep forest and has been ignored in the past.

"Gradually they will get unveiled," he said.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn