China issued a regulation Tuesday banning scribbling and driving on the Great Wall as part of a series of measures to protect the ancient wonder.

 

 

The regulation, promulgated by the State Council or central government, forbids taking soil or bricks from the Great Wall, planting trees, carving on the wall or building anything on the wall that is not designed to protect it.

 

It also bans the use of vehicles on the wall and the organization of activities on sections not open to tourists.

 

Individuals who breach the regulations are subject to fines of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan (US$1,250 to 6,250) and institutions 50,000 to 500,000 yuan (US$6,250 to 62,500).

 

The regulation incites all citizens, legal entities and organizations to shoulder their legal obligations to protect the Great Wall.

 

The principle of "preserving the original appearance" is enshrined in the regulation which emphasizes that no construction projects are allowed in off-limits areas.

 

The regulation, which comes into effect on Dec. 1, 2006, said the state encourages citizens and organizations to donate money to Great Wall protection funds.

 

The Great Wall stretches 6,700 km from west to northeast China, traversing Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hebei and Liaoning.

 

Its construction dates back to the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), when separate sections were built in scattered strategic areas to defend China against invasion by northern nomadic tribes.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)