Breaking the Great Wall to make... a shortcut

The above information was released by China Central Television (CCTV) on September 4.

According to the official WeChat account of the Youyu County Public Security Bureau, at around 4:20 p.m. on August 24 (local time), the Youyu County government said they received a report that a gap had been opened on the Great Wall in Yangtianhe Town.

Upon receiving the report, the Criminal Investigation Team quickly arrived at the scene. After examining the traces at the scene, the police initially determined that the Great Wall was damaged due to digging with large machinery.

Patrolling the route, police discovered a 38-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman using an excavator to break through the Great Wall to create a shortcut through.

The area is believed to have been caused by two residents in Son Tay. Photo released by Ngoc Huu District Police on August 31. Photo: guancha

A section of the Great Wall was destroyed to make a shortcut. Photo: guancha

Two suspects have been detained and the case is under further investigation.

Authorities said the actions of the two residents caused "irreparable" damage, destroying the integrity and safety of the wall structure here.

According to CNN , this area, known as the 32nd Great Wall, is one of the last complete walls and watchtowers that date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and is listed as a provincial-level cultural relic.

The Great Wall was recognized as a world heritage site by the United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1987.

According to Chinese media, this is not the first time the Great Wall has been damaged. About 30% of the Great Wall has disappeared over time due to adverse natural conditions as well as people stealing bricks to build houses.

For example, in 2016, villagers in the northern part of Beijing, where the Great Wall is located, stole bricks and historical plaques to sell to tourists for 30-50 yuan (33,000 - 166,000 VND).

Not only that, many areas of the Great Wall have been severely damaged by erosion. Many walls have peeled off, exposing patches of soil.

In response to the dire state of the historic site, the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage has launched a fundraising campaign to help restore the deteriorating walls. Organizers also hope the campaign will help raise public awareness of the many threats facing the Great Wall.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/pha-van-ly-truong-thanh-de-lam-loi-di-tat-2023090508415308.htm