Foreign Tourists Banned from China’s Grand Barrier: A Tale of Trespass and Preservation
Two voyagers incurred a prohibition from accessing an unimproved segment of China’s Grand Barrier following an intrusion.
A duo of individuals, both hailing from Senegal, faced exclusion from China’s Grand Barrier for trespassing onto an underdeveloped portion of the ancient edifice, as divulged by the overseer of the Mutianyu division of the barrier on Tuesday.
The two gentlemen were brought to light by fellow sightseers on April 30 for willfully disregarding a sign indicating “no passage” and ascending onto a segment of the barrier beyond Watchtower 20, which is currently undergoing renovation.
In a declaration on the authorized Mutianyu Grand Barrier WeChat profile, the overseer remarked that a substantial section of the barrier in this locale is precarious and requires maintenance. “From a standpoint of safety, the Untamed Grand Barrier is steep, and the masonry is precarious, hence a lack of vigilance could lead to disorientation or injury,” the announcement asserted. “It is inherently unsuitable for scaling or traversing.”
The overseer urged visitors to honor and safeguard the ancient structure, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Upon being apprised of the misconduct of the two individuals, it was noted that the overseer “promptly enacted corresponding measures, employing the ticketing and monitoring systems to pinpoint the identities of the two travelers and place them on the ‘blacklist,’ thus curtailing their privilege to procure tickets.”
As per the state-controlled Global Times publication, this might mark the inaugural instance of foreigners being included in a tourism prohibition list, a measure implemented by numerous attractions across the nation to promote more “civilized” conduct at scenic locales.
The publication highlighted that the subject garnered widespread attention on Weibo, China’s counterpart to Twitter, citing a user’s comment, “Regardless of whether they are Chinese nationals or foreigners, equitable treatment should be meted out if they transgress regulations.”
In March, three Chinese tourists apprehended for defacing a segment of the Grand Barrier near Badaling were apprehended and fined, with the overseer cautioning that anyone caught engaging in such behavior would similarly face prohibition.
The Grand Barrier ranks among China’s most frequented tourist draws, attracting upwards of 10 million visitors annually before the onset of the pandemic. Even amid last year’s challenges, more than 48,000 individuals toured daily during the nation’s Golden Week holiday in October.
Despite admonitions to the contrary, many individuals embark on treks through the undeveloped stretches of the structure, with Lonely Planet having even issued a manual for such endeavors, produced in collaboration with the China National Tourist Office, delineating the “most breathtaking untamed excursions” along the Grand Barrier.
Situated approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of central Beijing, the Mutianyu portion of the barrier stands as one of the most meticulously preserved and frequented stretches of the monument, albeit not as heavily frequented as Badaling, the nearest accessible segment to the Chinese capital.
“It is also pertinent to note that several unrestored segments of the Grand Barrier are not formally open to the public, albeit seldom monitored,” the guide elucidates. “Untamed excursions on the Grand Barrier are fairly prevalent, with local excursion firms conducting guided hikes, some spanning overnight durations.”