Two men were detained by Chinese police after causing significant damage to a historic section of the Great Wall in Shanxi. CCTV, the state broadcaster, reported that a large hole had been drilled in the wall so heavy machinery could pass through, enabling construction equipment to move more easily on that site.
The suspects, identified by the police by their surnames Zheng and Wang, were described as construction workers. Investigations revealed that they used a bulldozer to excavate a wide opening in a portion of the wall, a move intended to facilitate the passage of their machinery through the historic barrier.
The incident took place in a segment of the Great Wall that dates back to the Ming dynasty, a stretch recognized as the 32nd watch station near Youyu County. The authorities noted that this portion of the wall has long been a symbol of China’s ancient engineering and cultural heritage, attracting attention whenever its integrity is compromised.
The police explained that their team initially received a formal complaint and began a thorough inquiry. During the investigation, evidence emerged indicating that the damage was caused by heavy equipment and not by natural causes or unrelated activities. The findings led to a clear conclusion about the responsible parties and their motive, which appeared to be to keep a planned route open without regard for the wall’s preservation concerns.
After officers traced the suspects to a nearby town, they were brought to the police station for questioning. Both Zheng and Wang ultimately admitted to damaging the structure and stated that their actions were taken to avoid deviating from a chosen path, a claim that did not justify the harm to the cultural site. The case underscores the ongoing tension between development activities and the protection of historic monuments in the region.