The conservation of the Great Wall, one of China's most representative historic structures and most welcomed tourist spots, requires both governmental and public efforts to enhance utilization and protection of the cultural heritage site, said an expert.
As China's best preserved and earliest repaired section of the Great Wall, the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing has been open to the public since 1958. Since then, it has welcomed over 210 million tourists and inspired more with its rich cultural heritage and history.
"Climbing the Great Wall again in the golden autumn of October, I not only saw the red leaves all over the mountains and the magnificent scenery, but also deeply felt the spirit of our Chinese nation and the wisdom of our ancestors," said Xu Yaping, a tourist.
With an increasing influx of visitors to the Great Wall and many of its sections in the wild lacking adequate protection, government actions are necessary, but it is also important to raise public awareness, said Dong Yaohui, vice president of the Great Wall Society of China.
"The awareness of protecting the Great Wall needs to be promoted and disseminated. Everyone needs to be aware of the significance of protecting the Great Wall and its historical value. Relevant laws need to be further improved. More severe punishments should be introduced and designed to protect the Great Wall by dissuading bad behavior. This is very important," said Dong.
Addressing concerns about over-utilization, Dong highlighted the success of the Badaling Great Wall conservation efforts.
"Does utilization of the Great Wall mean damaging it? Not necessarily. In fact, proper utilization is conducive to protection. The Badaling Great Wall receives ten million tourists a year. Does it damage the Great Wall? No, it does not. This is the case in many aspects. If you do a good job of utilization, it will actually be beneficial to protection," said Dong.
Dong's views align with the protection efforts of government, which call for more education about the Great Wall and its history, alongside more cultural activities at the site, aiming to better explore the iconic cultural resource and foster collective respect for it.
Expert calls for concerted efforts to protect Great Wall
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
