Great Wall Conservation and Protection

Protection of the Great Wall is a serious issue. Every year, thousands of people contribute to its deterioration. Please do your part to help in the conservation and protection effort when you visit the Great Wall. Pick up trash that you might see, try not to leave any trace of your visit, and encourage others to do the same.

Conservation and protection of the Great Wall are more important than you might think. Any outdoor structure is subject to deterioration over time, and especially one that’s regularly visited by so many people. It’s inevitable that everyone who walks on the Great Wall causes at least a little bit of damage. But some people contribute more than their share due to carelessness or ignorance.

The Great Wall is an unforgettable experience that should be available for many generations to come to enjoy. But if its deterioration continues at the present rate, soon there won't be much more left than a trace of its path and photos of its former glory.

You can help to preserve the Great Wall in several ways. The first and most obvious way is not to damage it yourself. Be careful when climbing on fragile parts of the Great Wall where bricks and stones could be dislodged or loosened. When in doubt, walk alongside or around the vulnerable parts. Do not litter or leave trash at Great Wall sites. If you find trash at the Great Wall, remove it. Try to educate other people. Talk with others about the importance of treating this cultural relic with respect. If you see someone causing any kind of damage to the Great Wall, confront them and try to discourage them by explaining the importance of preserving the Great Wall.

Never start fires on or near the Great Wall. The heat and soot of a fire can damage the Great Wall, and there is a serious risk of forest fires. Please follow this rule ardently. In some areas, local fire protection teams will try to keep hikers away during high fire season (April and early May). That's how seriously they take the fire risk—one fire can wipe out a village's entire livelihood.

Do your part to protect and preserve the Great Wall as a kind of a payback for the pleasure and memories that you will take from it.

Please help us to protect the Great Wall

One of the most important things we can do is to help raise awareness of the importance of protecting the Great Wall and also help people to understand how they can contribute to the conservation effort.

We all want beautiful, original Great Wall remains like this to be around for generations of the future to appreciate and enjoy.

Please help us to protect the Great Wall.