Focus on Problems

At the seminar, it was noted that Great Wall in the Beijing region was facing a slew of new threats that included:

* wanton littering and graffiti -- for lack of the simplest defense mechanisms;

* illegal Wall-side placement of signs, advertisements, construction of buildings and public utilities apparatus for the lack of any promoting, monitoring, reporting, implementing and prosecuting of violators of a "200-metre no construction regulation"

* major developments in close proximity to the Wall, which threaten to scar the cultural landscape, given oversights in state land administration practices which make it possible and inexpensive for developers to lease land-use rights beside the Great Wall.

In response, it was noted that the following work, legislation and mechanisms could combine to better protect the Wall in its natural setting:

*A fundamental advance in Wall conservation could be achieved if the Wall and its setting was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Presently the Great Wall is designated a cultural site. Its natural setting is not afforded any level of protection. China's committee for World Heritage Sites should be encouraged to re-apply to UNESCO to have certain sections of the Great Wall re-designated as cultural-natural sites.

*China should also re-assess the designation of each section of Wall in terms of them being protected as State-, Provincial- or County-Level sections. Most classic Great Wall cultural landscapes are currently "under-designated" as county-level sites and thus their fate lies in the hands of low-ranking officials and government organs. If such valuable and important sites can be re-designated State Level sites then their future would perhaps be a more secure in terms of real protection.

*If land is leased beside the Great Wall then developers will doubtless scar the land beside the Great Wall. The right of local governments to lease the land-use rights of land beside the Wall needs to be overturned by the State Land Administration. This is a most urgent task.

*A dedicated Great Wall Law needs to be drafted, promulgated, promoted and enforced. The Ming Great Wall alone is the world's most extensive cultural relic and therefore requires specific legal protection under a dedicated law with comprehensive articles.

*A Great Wall Cultural Relics Heritage Management Plan is urgently required for the Beijing Municipality to lay the foundation for the rational use, conservation and re-generation (rescue) of Great Wall and its natural setting.

*A mechanism to promote and enforce laws pertaining to Great Wall protection needs to be introduced. This could be a "Great Wall Township Alliance" in which all townships in the Beijing Municipality appoint and train an official whose responsibility it would be to promote in his/her township the new concepts of Great Wall conservation.

* Scores of simple, low-cost but effective on-site public awareness raising initiatives need to be introduced. These would include "green message" noticeboards, which should be complemented with ranger support systems in which local farmers are employed to pick up garbage and brief visitors they meet with the need for self-management.

Signal-control box on the Wall at Huanghuacheng, erected August 2000.	Power lines and pylons close to Wall in Yanqing County.
Farmers leasing land beside the Wall at Huanghuacheng assume they also have the right to occupy - and build structures - in towers.	Notice daubed on Wall at Huanghuacheng.

A variety of structures at Huanghuacheng stand within the "200-metre no construction" buffer promoted by the Beijing Bureau of Cultural Relics.	Mobile phone signal station on a tower at Huanghuacheng.