Facelift planned for sections of Great Wall in Inner Mongolia

An extensive programme has been launched to restore and reinforce sections of the Great Wall in Inner Mongolia that are under threat from modern development and natural erosion.

Xinhua said it was 'the most extensive' preservation programme for the national symbol. Inner Mongolia is the province with the longest section of the Great Wall.

'A survey of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Great Wall is in full swing and repairs have started for the Qin dynasty (221-207BC) Great Wall,' said the deputy director of the regional cultural department, a Mr Mingri.

Inner Mongolia has 20,000km of the Great Wall, which was built in different historical periods. Much of it was in ruins, Mr Mingri said.

The project focused on protecting the original architecture, and included some reinforcement work. It would take two to three years, he said. The major task this year is to finish repairs on the Qin-era sections of the wall and investigate what needed to be done to the Han dynasty sections, he said. The cost is estimated to be 100 million yuan (HK$111.6 million), of which more than 5 million yuan has already been used, according to Mr Mingri.

The Great Wall, mainly located in the central and western parts of the region, featured architecture from several eras, ranging from the Warring States period (403-221BC) to the Ming dynasty, he said. Some sections, built in the Qin dynasty, the Han dynasty (206BC-AD220) and the Ming dynasty, are listed as national cultural heritage.