Under new law to protect the world's biggest cultural relic, visitors are banned from unrestored parts of the monument. Come Aug 1, hikers in Beijing will no longer be able to walk on the wild side of the Great Wall. And hard times loom for farmers who have come to rely on extra income from selling to hikers farm produce such as cucumbers, chestnuts or home-embroidered shoe soles, or from collecting fees from those passing through their land. A new regulation kicks in on Friday which bans visitors from unrestored parts of the 629km stretch of the Great Wall under the jurisdiction of the Beijing city government. To protect the ancient monument and its surrounding areas, farmers can no longer set up stalls nearby. No structures can be put up within 500m of either side of the Wall and buildings within 3km must blend in with the monument.Two years in the making, China's first law to protect the world's biggest cultural relic from both natural and man-inflicted damage will come into force amid debate and some controversy. For conservationists, this is an important step towards the preservation of the 6,700km Wall, built between the Warring States period (403BC-221BC) and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
View: Full Article? | Source: The Strait Times