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The writing's (on the Net) on the Wall
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-28 05:41
"It's good compared with the old ones," he said.
Volunteers often collect old pictures of the Great Wall, find out where they
were taken and try to take pictures at the same location to reflect its current
condition in hopes of arousing authorities' attention to the worsening
situation.
"I suggest taking pictures here with an unfolded national flag," Hong said
later in an online posting, which generated replies from other web members who
approved of the idea.
During their explorations, the volunteers always bear a sense of protection
in mind, as authorities worry about the threat travellers pose to the
already-fragile structure.
They call for travellers to leave nothing but footsteps when they tour
historical sites.
Also, they seldom reveal their routes to outsiders for fear that travel
agencies and property developers might make use of the information to make
money.
"It did happen before," Hong said. "Some travel agencies exploited the
section and even used our picture as a selling point."
The unexpected harm to the relics and the garbage travellers may leave there
"just breaks our hearts," Hong said.
Thanks to their efforts, some parts of the Wall damaged by natural forces
were remedied immediately. Last July the volunteers received feedback from local
authorities after they reported a collapse during an exploration earlier last
year.
Some trips have even resulted in accidental discoveries of cultural items,
such as the porcelain dating back to the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220).
"I have been totally immersed in my connection with the Great Wall," Hong
said, showing his transcriptions on the computer.
"When I read these old materials, I feel so close to history, as if I were
talking to our ancestors. Hundreds of years have passed, but it feels like only
a short time ago."
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