The controversy over the “ugly” repair of the Great Wall of China – BBC World

Image copyright AFP

Image caption The controversy repair came to light because of pictures posted on social networks.

A section of the Great Wall of China in 635 years of age is now seen as a way sleek and modern cement.

This new look contrasts with the surface “uneven” lucia construction until recently.

The change, a result of a “restoration”, it is perceived by the chinese as a damage to this World Heritage the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (Unesco).

“Really it was a repair job ugly”, admitted Ding Hui, chief of the Bureau of Antiquities of the Province of Liaoning, in northeast China, where the segment involved. the “Lsurface see ideal.

The work was qualified as “basic and raw” by Dong Yaohui, vice-president of the Society of Studies of the Great Wall.

What we did to this world wonder?

Image copyright AP

Image caption local Media report that they used a variety of materials, such as sand, lime and concrete.

In 2014, the segment object of the controversy was repaired to protect it from deterioration.

According to an official study, this part, of eight miles in length, was in danger of crumbling and being washed away by the rain.

The old building, originally built with blocks stone, noteto materials, according to reports by local media, including cal, sand cement.

Ding Hui, of the Office of Antiquities of Liaoning, explained that arrangements were made to fill spaces broken and added an additional layer of protection on the surface, “like a hat”.

The change came to light recently in the wake of photos posted on Weibo, a kind of Twitter chinese, where thousands of users criticized the work.

Image copyright AP

Image caption The repair work does not correspond with the original design of the Wall, which was built with blocks of stone and lucy a surface “uneven”.

The chinese government has specific regulations on the preservation of the Great Wall, which is in danger of falling off in many places.

Some sections have been damaged over the years.

The law against damagesosin relics culturalis strict. Those who are found culprit may get up 10 years of prison.

The Great Wall was built from the 220 to.C. and rebuilt continuously up to the SEVENTEENTH century, under the Ming dynasty, when it was the military structure world’s largest.

Designed to protect the empire of China from the invasions of the north, once stretched over 20,000 kilometers.