Great Wall sets up 'graffiti area' for tourists to vandalise

A special area for graffiti has been designated at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, to better protect the ancient heritage site, the governing authority said on Sunday.

The Mutianyu section has frequently had words in English and other languages etched onto it, according to Huairou district's publicity department. The allocation of a specified graffiti area at the No. 14 Fighting Tower building will hopefully contain the vandalism to one location.

As a key cultural relics site, some 40 percent of tourists to Mutianyu coming from foreign countries. The Beijing Evening News said that much of the newly carved graffiti is in foreign languages, rather than Chinese.

The administration board has plans to set up two further graffiti-friendly areas, with an electronic board also being considered for the future.