Rebuilding brick by glorious brick

Work on the Jiankou section of the Great Wall takes a new approach to restoring its former beauty.

The Great Wall of China, which runs for more than 21,000 kilometers along the country's northern frontier, stands as a testament to human ingenuity. Each summer, it draws thousands of international visitors to Beijing that are eager to scale the wall and marvel at its grandeur.

Yet, popular and well-maintained sections like Badaling and Mutianyu represent but a small portion of the structure. Rugged terrain and isolation have left other stretches dubbed "wild walls "in disrepair. This particularly applies to the Jiankou Great Wall, which despite climbing bans, still lures the intrepid.

The Great Wall protection project launched in September 2016 by the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation and the Tencent Foundation aims to prevent further damage and preserve the Jiankou section for future generations. It is supported by the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau and Huairou district's cultural and tourism bureau.