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State to manage Great Wall
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-10 08:55
The Beijing authorities' decision to put the Badaling section of the Great
Wall back under State management is a distinct possibility.
Furthermore,
all the revenue from entrance tickets at the section will go towards relics
protection. This move comes as the municipal government shows an eagerness to
protect the pride of Beijing and China.
Management over the Great Wall
reflects the development of the Chinese market economy. This section was managed
in 1997 by the Badaling Tourism Development Co, which had a business
co-operation with a foreign company. Years later, the corporation, together with
another company, was listed on the stock market. The management of the Badaling
section has remained with this company ever since.
The return is based on
a regulation on protecting and managing the Great Wall issued by the
Beijing municipal governmentin 2003. It says that no work units or individuals
are allowed to manage the Great Wall as their own assets.
The grand
structure, built in stages over 10 dynasties starting from 221 BC, was made a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Among its several sections in Beijing, the
Badaling Great Wall, which lies 50 miles northwest of the capital, is the best
preserved and most popular choice for tourists.
Different sections of the
Wall tell different stories. Some portions near tourist centres have been
preserved and even reconstructed. Before, they were used, in extreme cases, as a
venue for promotional activities and parties. Some sections of the Wall are
prone to graffiti and most locations are in disrepair, serving as a playground
for villagers and a source of stones to rebuild houses and roads.
To
preserve China's heritage, Beijing has enacted local legislation that prohibits
visits to the "wild Great Wall," and has closed sections to the
public.
By returning the management of the Badaling section back to the
State, Beijing is ensuring the Wall for future generations.
The action is
necessary. The Great Wall Society of China warned that the Wall is crumbling,
unable to withstand natural deterioration and calamities caused by people. A
survey the society carried out in 2002 found that less than 30 per cent of the
Wall was visible.
The Wall is one of the greatest open-air museums
surviving today. It displays the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient China. It
deserves our respect and meticulous care.
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