Only 2,500 kilometers remain of China's 6,300-kilometer-long Great Wall, long known as a wonder of the world and its largest cultural relic, according to a newly released report from the Chinese Academy of the Great Wall.

Dong Yaohui, secretary-general of the academy, criticized shortsighted Chinese who have damaged some segments of the wall to save money by acquiring earth and bricks from the structure while haphazardly destroying the nation's heritage.

In addition, some local governments have torn down parts of the wall, paving the way for new construction projects and business people have restored other sections of the wall for tourism use without authorization and not in accordance with its original design.

All such behavior has severely damaged the wall and protecting the much-beloved structure is now a more urgent task, Dong said.

"Only a few people who damaged the Great Wall were punished by law. Most Great Wall destroyers were merely fined or given disciplinary penalties," he said.

As early as in 1961, the State Council passed a regulation on cultural relics protection that required mapping-out so-called protection zones for the Great Wall. It designated special organizations to take charge of Great Wall protection and to keep records and files on the wall's upkeep.

(China Daily June 8, 2004)