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The writing's (on the Net) on the Wall
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-28 05:41
"It has more than 5,000 registered members," said Zhang Jun, one of its
founders. "Among them are entrepreneurs, police officers, professional
photographers, college students and members of other organizations involved in
historical site protection. Hundreds are as active as Hong."
The website provides a brief introduction in English, and foreigners can
participate in the discussion and adventure with the help of members who can
communicate in both English and Chinese.
In his e-mail to a website member, Ian Law, a British technical transfer
manager from York, called the website "great and very informative." He enquired
for information on the glutinous rice that was put into the mortar used to build
the Wall during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Other organizations
Organizations for the Great Wall protection have sprouted up since the
mid-1980s. The most influential ones include the China Great Wall Society, which
advocates restoring the Great Wall and has established an Academy of the Great
Wall to give greater credence to its work. The society is made up of amateur and
professional conservationists, architects and archaeologists dedicated to
mapping, documenting and conserving the heritage.
Another is the International Friends of the Great Wall, founded in 2001 by
William Lindesay of Britain with the support of the Beijing Municipal
Administration of Cultural Heritage and UNESCO. It focuses on maintaining
Beijing's undeveloped "wild Wall," embarking on public education initiatives and
strengthening legal protection.
Distinguished from other organizations, the members of Changcheng Xiaozhan
think of themselves as ordinary volunteers or "fans."
"Mr Lindesay has a unique power to direct public attention on Great Wall
protection," said Zhang Jun, an electrical engineer. "But what we do is what we
really feel from the heart and what we can fulfil. The results can be
immediately seen."
Also, the website is unique to use network as the channel to organize
adventures and other events. Members never pry to private lives unless they
would like to communicate with each other during activities.
"The site's slogan is 'Love the Wall, Love the Life,' " Zhang said. "It's
really a home to members who share their interests in the rampart." The group
even holds get-togethers and sporting events regularly.
Hong is one of the most dedicated members. He is regarded as an outstanding
representative because of his admirable knowledge about the Great Wall and his
adventures.
In the past few years, Hong has scanned almost all the major ancient books
regarding the Wall. He transcribed the history of ancient dynasties from
threadbare books into his computer.
Friends were amazed at his fascination with the voluminous historical
records, which were written without pauses or punctuation. Professors say he was
the equivalent of a doctoral student of history or archaeology. Some friends
call him "the grand academician of Hanlin," referring to the ancient literary
academy. He logs onto the site daily and posts an article of about 5,000 words
every month.
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