Under the new regulations, such behavior is now clearly prohibited. Article 22 bans activities including carving or graffiti, and organizing group events on sections not designated for visitors. Violators can face penalties under existing laws, with groups subject to fines of up to 50,000 yuan ($7,247).
Liu recently attended a training session in the village explaining the new rules. "Next time something like that happens, we can cite the regulations," she says.
Efforts to strengthen protection have evolved over two decades. Beijing introduced its first municipal management measures for the Great Wall in 2003. In 2006, China adopted the Great Wall Protection Overall Plan, a framework aimed at monitoring, preventing damage, and coordinating preservation efforts across regions.
Tang Yuyang, a professor at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture who helped revise the new Beijing regulations, says the latest law grew out of a review that began in 2018.
According to her, the updated rules establish a management system that emphasizes "overall protection, segmented management and responsibility at multiple levels". They also broaden the definition of what must be preserved — including the Wall itself, related cultural relics and the surrounding environment.
Modern technology will play a growing role as well. The regulations encourage the use of electronic monitoring and early warning systems to deter damage and prevent risks such as natural disasters.
The rules also attempt to address the persistent problem of hikers climbing undeveloped sections. Rather than imposing a blanket ban, the regulations define official "Great Wall visiting areas", leaving room for new forms of controlled access beyond traditional scenic sites.
"The ultimate goal of protecting the Great Wall is to benefit the public," Tang adds.
Shixia is already experimenting with that balance. Last year, a forest trail known as the "Beijing Great Wall Viewing Path" opened along the mountainside. Visitors can admire the Great Wall and the village's rustic landscape without climbing onto the fragile ruins.
Gu Wenting, Shixia's Party secretary, hopes the route will expand so that scenic viewpoints appear along the mountains. The plan is to draw more visitors to the village itself.
More than 20 family-run guesthouses now operate in Shixia, along with cafes, small distilleries and tea houses. Travelers can sample traditional foods recognized as part of China's intangible cultural heritage and watch demonstrations of local handicrafts.
