BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- First-time visitors to Beijing can rarely resist the Great Wall. And more often than not, they visit the Badaling section. The reason is obvious: Badaling, the first section of the Great Wall to open to tourists, is closest to the city.

    As a top tourist destination, the 7,600-meter-long Badaling section of the Great Wall has borne the brunt of vandalism and erosion, with recent media reports highlighting damage caused by vehicle exhaust, name-carving and litter. The 2,000-year-old solemn serenity is also disrupted by the constant noise of nearby motor vehicles, holiday resorts and amusement facilities.

    The news broke on April 15 that the city government's Badaling Special Zone Administration had seized the right to manage Badaling from its former partners citing new legal regulations in its support.

    With the new agreement, the Badaling Special Zone Administration, an accredited representative of local government, will now be solely responsible for all tourism and conservation at Badaling.

    "The regulatory job becomes a unified operation. And the responsibility is clear," said Li Shuwang, deputy director of Badaling Special Zone Administration.

    Li outlined the new work ahead:

    Tree planting and planning for commercial ventures near and on the wall;

    Setting up consistent signs near the wall;

    Repair and consolidation of the unopened parts of the Great Wall under its care;

    And, upgrading the display and exhibits at the Great Wall Museum.

    "We shall carry out the regulatory work with conservation at the core. Tourism will be developed on the basis of conservation. Revenues will no longer be the chief objective," said Li.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]