Tourist detained for vandalizing Great Wall

A tourist was detained and fined recently for scribbling her name on the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing using a key recently. Police tracked her down and apprehended her at the Summer Palace, reported the Beijing Daily.

The incident came to light after fellow tourists witnessed the perpetrator, surnamed Tang, scribbling her name on the Great Wall. Police traced Tang's tour route using videos and photos provided by informants.

Investigations revealed that Tang had left the Badaling section and proceeded to the Summer Palace. The woman was ultimately apprehended and received a five-day administrative detention along with a 200 yuan ($28) fine. Additionally, Tang has been placed on the Badaling scenic area's blacklist as a punitive measure.

A police officer from the Badaling police station said that the Great Wall is an important historical and cultural heritage site. The police, in collaboration with local authorities, are taking measures to prevent and deter acts of vandalism. Additionally, they are collaborating with security personnel, grid workers, forest rangers, and cleaners to strengthen surveillance at key locations along the Great Wall, providing timely preventive reminders and detecting illegal activities, according to the Beijing Daily.

Moreover, the Badaling scenic area has installed 26 signs to prohibit scribbling at key spots such as entrances and popular photo locations. On-site workers utilize large screens, broadcasts, and a new ticketing system to remind the public about the rules surrounding vandalism and travel agencies and tour guides are also required to inform their group members about the proper behaviors visitors should display on the Great Wall.

Since the implementation of real-name ticketing, the accuracy of identifying and cracking down on illegal activities on the Great Wall has been significantly improved, police said. Over the past three years, the police officers have investigated 45 cases of illegal carving, resulting in 41 administrative detentions and 4 warnings.