Part Of The Great Wall Of China Collapses Following Heavy Rainfall

A section of the Great Wall of China has collapsed following a bout of heavy rain in the country's Shanxi province.

The section fell after several days of heavy rain in Dai county, with some critics looking to blame poorly executed renovation sites along the wall, which they claim to have weakened its structural integrity.

The backlash saw dissenting voices pointing out that the wall had previously stood for centuries without any interference from local officials.

In an article found on WeChat's citizen journalist platform, one contributor wrote: "Sometimes I wonder why you people renovating the Wall can't do things more seriously.

"Why can't you devote all your energy?"

The same article found that another construction site along the wall, The Yellow River, had also collapsed as a result of the rainfall.

Xinzhou News

The article resonated with many readers, who have branded the renovation works as 'shoddy' and 'unsatisfactory'.

In an effort to boost tourism along the wall's path, the Chinese government has been rebuilding different sections of the site in various renovation works across Northern China.

However, in light of recent events, many now claim that these restoration works are bringing more damage than good to the ancient site.

In June, there were online reports of a botched renovation in Shanxi's Datong County, where authorities were accused of using modern materials made to look like ancient brick in their repair works.

And in 2016, a section of the wall in China's Liaoning Province - once regarded as the wall's most beautiful section - was paved over with smooth cement, according to an article in the Global Times.

The Great Wall of China dates way back to the 7th Century BC and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

It stretches a whopping 13,000 miles and spans across 15 different provinces.

Pixabay

The Yanmen Pass, which was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is located in the Yanmen Mountains, around 20km north of Dai county. It's a historically important part of the wall and sees a constant flow of tourists from all over the world.

Following the incident, the local tourism administration has said it is taking emergency measures to repair the situation and has temporarily closed the site until further notice.

A statement said: "Due to recent heavy rains, some areas of Yanmen Pass Scenic Area have collapsed. In order to maintain the safety of our tourists, the site will be closed for repairs from 22 July."

So, just a heads-up. If you were planning a trip along the Great Wall anytime soon, maybe you should put those plans on hold for a while...

Topics: World News, China

Megan Walsh

Megan is a freelance journalist and sub-editor with a BAHons degree in Journalism and Communications. Since graduating from London Metropolitan University, she has worked as a sub-editor and writer for Candis Magazine and later contributed to publications such as The Skinny, Creative Tourist and Huffington Post, among others.