Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2020 shows the inauguration ceremony for China's first Great Wall protection and renovation base which was set up beside the Jiankou section of the Great Wall in Beijing's suburban Huairou District. (Provided by the National Cultural Heritage Administration)

BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- With the approval of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China's first Great Wall protection and renovation base was inaugurated on Saturday in Beijing.

The base is set up beside the Jiankou section of the Great Wall in Beijing's suburban Huairou District. The Jiankou section is one of the most dangerous parts of the Great Wall and is known by hikers as "the wild Great Wall."

Song Xinchao, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said the Jiankou section of the Great Wall repair project provides a reference for nationwide Great Wall repair efforts.

Cheng Yongmao, an experienced Great Wall repairer, said it is critical to conduct the repair work with minimal intervention while eliminating potential safety hazards.

With the guidance of experts, the Great Wall protection and renovation base, based on the foundation of the Jiankou Great Wall repair project, will summarize protection experience and strive to become an international exchange platform for Great Wall maintenance and protection experience.

Since 2000, nearly 100 Great Wall protection projects have been carried out in Beijing with a total investment of about 470 million yuan (about 69.5 million U.S. dollars). A number of demonstration protection projects, including the repair project of the Jiankou section of the Great Wall, have emerged. ■