Photos: Rebuilding the Great Wall of China with immense drudgery

Intensive repairs on the Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China in the past year have been led by the district government keen to preserve its natural beauty and shore up its disintegrating steps in Beijing, China.

Updated on: Jun 17, 2017 7:27 PM IST

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Cheng Yongmao, the engineer in charge of the reconstruction project on the Jiankou section of the Great Wall, looks as the sun rises over the wall in Beijing, China. The district government, keen to preserve the natural beauty of the Great Wall and shore up its disintegrating steps, has led intensive repairs on the Jiankou section over the past year. The restoration, which began in 2005, has been extremely slow and hindered by the uneven terrain. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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Early morning fog covers the Jiankou section of the Great Wall located in Huairou district north of Beijing. Constructed in 1368 during the period of Ming Dynasty, this section of Great Wall is a photographic hot spot. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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Mules have been crucial in the effort to restore the Jiankou section, notorious for its ridges and perilous slopes, as they are the only means to carry materials required for reconstruction. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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Workers carry their tools and belongings as they climb down the Great Wall. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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In order to preserve the historical and cultural aspect of the Great Wall, workers have used original bricks that broke off the wall over the centuries or made new bricks that matched the specifications. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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The authorities have been careful to develop a meticulous approach ever since a widespread outrage was sparked last year by botched restoration efforts on some stretches. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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People rest after working on the reconstruction of the Great Wall. (REUTERS)

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According to officials, just a tenth of the wall has been repaired. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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A cameraman documents the reconstruction project of the Great Wall of China in Beijing. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)

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A scenic view of the Jiankou section. In the past, only tourist spots along the Great Wall were considered for reconstruction, a mindset that has now changed and aims at sustainable preservation of the historic wall for its future generations. (Damir Sagolj/REUTERS)