Construction workers in central Shanxi province seriously destroyed a section of China's Great Wall by digging with an excavator. Two detained for damaging the Great Wall of China with an excavator.
This act of vandalism, which occurred in Shanxi province, has raised concerns about the preservation of this iconic historical monument.
The culprits behind this destructive act are a 38-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman who were working in the vicinity of the Great Wall. They stand accused of excavating a wide gap in the ancient structure by expanding an existing opening.
Their intent was reportedly to create a shortcut for their construction work nearby, thus reducing the distance they had to travel.
Local authorities have asserted that the excavation carried out by the accused resulted in "irreversible" damage to both the integrity and safety of the section of the wall affected.
The damage occurred in a part of the wall dating back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and is known as the 32nd Great Wall. This section also houses a relatively well-preserved watchtower and holds provincial cultural relic status.
More than 30% of the Ming Great Wall may have vanished totally, according to a 2016 article in the Beijing Times, while just 8% remains in good condition.
If you want to know why someone, like the accused, would be so cavalier about destroying a piece of this internationally renowned historical landmark, you need to look at the building itself.
The Great Wall of China is a chain of fortifications spanning large swaths of northern China, and its condition varies greatly from place to place. It occurs less often in urban areas and more frequently in outlying regions of a number of provinces.
The earliest sections of the Great Wall date back thousands of years; they were rammed earth barriers, and now they appear as mounds that aren't even obviously the Great Wall.
Unpaved path is crossing Great Wall of China Chinese authorities have been increasingly vigilant in safeguarding the Great Wall and combatting acts of vandalism in recent years.
This incident is not an isolated one; in 2021, three visitors were detained and fined for defacing the famous Badaling section of the wall.
Furthermore, two foreign tourists were banned from the Great Wall for trespassing onto an undeveloped part of the Mutianyu section, allegedly attempting to create a shortcut for their construction work.
The Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, holds immense historical and cultural significance.
Its construction spanned centuries, dating back to around 220 BC and continuing into the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s, when it reached its zenith as the world's largest military structure.
While some sections of the Great Wall are well-preserved and adorned with ancient watchtowers, others are in various states of decay or have vanished altogether.
Farmers in the area have been blamed for removing bricks and stones from the wall to use in their own construction projects or for use in animal cages.
These two are in deep danger since the government has just taken extra measures to protect the Great Wall.
The Chinese populace may not find these measures particularly remarkable given the history of Great Wall demolition, but they will be distressed by them due to the Great Wall's immense cultural and historical significance not only to China but to the whole human race.
The recent incident of individuals damaging the Great Wall of China with an excavator is a stark reminder of the challenges in preserving this iconic historical monument.
The Great Wall's immense historical and cultural significance makes it a symbol not just for China but for all of humanity.
As Chinese authorities intensify efforts to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site, incidents like these serve as a call to action for the public to appreciate and safeguard the enduring legacy of the Great Wall for generations to come.