A view of a renovated section of the Great Wall in Suizhong County, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. Known as Xiaohekou Great Wall, original construction started on the section in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty. Many have questioned the renovation as it appears the broken walls were simply filled and leveled with mortar. (Photo/IC)
China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage released a document on Monday urging the provincial heritage authority to investigate and prosecute those accountable for the ugly repair of a section of the Great Wall.
Last month, a post widely circulated online claimed that the Great Wall section in Suizhong country, northeastern China's Liaoning Province had been defaced. The allegations claimed the repair failed to maintain the 700-year-old section of the much-loved landmark's old look, instead, it was simply covered in concrete.
According to the document, the pavement of the 8 kilometers' long ancient stone wall has not gone through standard procedures and it lacks documentary and approval.
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage has required the provincial authority to investigate and report by the end of this month. The authorities must publish the prosecution decision along with a re-repair plan.
The Chinese government has specific laws and regulations on the preservation of the Great Wall. Individuals found guilty of damaging a cultural relic could face up to 10 years' jail time.
The Great Wall of China has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987. The wall has been built and rebuilt continually starting from the Qin Dynasty around 220 BC to the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s.
