PTI
 
Beijing, Oct 26: China will ban graffiti and driving on the 6,700 km Great Wall, as part of measures to protect the ancient wonder.

A regulation, promulgated by the State Council, Chinese Cabinet, forbids taking soil or bricks from the Great Wall, planting trees, carving on the wall or building anything on the wall that is not designed to protect it.

It bans the use of vehicles on the wall and the holding of activities on sections not open to tourists.

Individuals who breach the regulations are subject to fines of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan ($1,250 to $6,250) and institutions to 50,000 to 500,000 yuan ($6,250 to $62,500).

The principle of "preserving the original appearance" is enshrined in the regulation that emphasises that no construction projects are allowed in off-limits areas.

The regulation, which comes into effect on December 1, said the state encourages citizens and organisations to donate money to the Great Wall’s protection funds.

The Great Wall stretches 6,700 km from west to northeast China, traversing Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hebei and Liaoning.

Its construction dates back to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), when sections were built in scattered strategic areas to defend China against invasion by northern nomadic tribes.