Policemen work at the Simatai section of the Great Wall in Beijing. Photo: Miyun Branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau

The Miyun Branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau released a notification on Sunday, saying that two tourists, who carved characters in the bricks of the Great Wall, have been detained and fined.

The police received a report on Friday from a staff member of Gubei Water Town, a popular scenic area in Beijing, saying that tourists had carved characters during a tour on the Simatai section of the Great Wall, the police notification said. 

To follow up on the report, police launched an on-site inspection and detailed investigation, and apprehended the two tourists surnamed Man (male, 26) and Liu (female, 21) on Saturday morning. 

The investigation revealed that the two tourists began their visit at the scenic area at 2:00 pm on Friday. Around 4:30 pm, Man carved their names into a beacon tower on the Great Wall using stones, adding some patterns at Liu's suggestion.

Man and Liu have been slapped with administrative penalties including detention and a fine, according to Miyun police's notification released on its official WeChat account. 

Miyun police reminded tourists to abide by regulations protecting cultural relics, practice civilized tourism, and refrain from vandalism while visiting the Great Wall.

"Let us work together to safeguard cultural heritage and contribute to the inheritance and promotion of China's fine traditional culture," the notification read. 

Global Times