Recently, a section of the ancient city wall from the Ming Dynasty in Zhongyang County, Lüliang City, Shanxi Province, was demolished and rebuilt, with a sign reading "Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area" attached, drawing widespread attention. In particular, the fact that the foundation stones and bricks of the demolished city wall were "dumped as waste" has sparked heated debate.

Why was this section of the city wall allowed to be demolished and rebuilt? Is it listed as a cultural relic? What are the reasons behind this? CCTV reporters recently went to Zhongyang County to investigate.

Where did the old bricks and stones go?

Is it listed in the cultural relics protection list?

Due to severe damage

The Ming Dynasty city wall is not listed in the cultural relics protection list.

It is understood that the city wall of Zhongyang County was first built during the Jingtai period of the Ming Dynasty. In the 1950s, a tunnel was dug through the city wall to build a water channel, and it was later expanded to become a pedestrian passage. In the 1960s and 1970s, residents in the surrounding area dug cave dwellings on the city wall and used bricks and stones from the city wall to build houses. In the 1980s, the city wall was basically demolished during urban expansion, and the remaining ruins total less than 1 kilometer, mainly composed of rammed earth walls.

Due to severe damage and other reasons, the Ming Dynasty city wall of Zhongyang County was not included in the list of cultural relics under protection when the third national cultural relics census was launched in August 2007.

Sun Xiaolong, Director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Zhongyang County: During the third national survey, based on expert opinions, it was not recommended that this city wall be included in the protection scope. Therefore, it was not included in the list of cultural relics during the third national survey. The reason is that the city wall was originally severely damaged, and local people lived at the base of the city wall, which was not conducive to its protection, display, or inheritance.

It underwent renovations in August 2024.

The original rammed earth walls have been largely preserved.

In February 2023, some members of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) of Zhongyang County proposed the construction of a Phoenix Mountain Ancient City Wall and Forest Trail Park. They pointed out that only the remnants of the Ming Dynasty city wall on the ridge of Phoenix Mountain remain, representing an important cultural heritage. Unfortunately, it has become a source of geological hazards. The proposal suggested restoring the Ming Dynasty city wall on the existing rammed earth sections to address the geological hazards while enriching the local culture. The project was approved in September 2023 and construction began in August 2024. This restoration largely preserved the original rammed earth walls.

Residents living at the foot of the city wall told reporters that even after restoration to its original state, problems such as through cracks, water damage and collapse, and seasonal soil erosion still exist in the city wall.

Resident: It fell down when it rained, and when it collapsed, I used cement to rebuild it with bricks from the city wall. If I hadn't, rainwater would have flooded into our yard, and we wouldn't be able to live there.

Reconstruction of approximately 50 meters of old city wall in an antique style

Abandoned old bricks and stones draw attention

In April last year, Zhongyang launched a project to improve people's livelihoods and renovate the city wall. This section of the city wall was included in the renovation project. During the renovation, about 50 meters of the old city wall was rebuilt in an antique style. Some of the old bricks and stones that were dismantled were dumped as waste at the time, which is the focus of public opinion.

Faced with questions such as "Why demolish the old and build the new?" and "Why were the old bricks and stones abandoned?", how did the cultural relics protection department respond? What was the statement made by the construction unit responsible for the project at the time? Let's continue with the reporter's investigation.

Sun Xiaolong, Director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Zhongyang County: At the time, it was not considered a cultural relic, so the Culture and Tourism Bureau did not pay much attention to it. According to my later understanding, some usable city bricks and stone slabs were also used in the project, while some broken and unusable ones were likely dumped as garbage.

Aerial footage reveals that following last year's renovation project, a section of the old city wall, originally built against the mountain, has been completely transformed. The original old wall structure, bricks, and fragments have largely disappeared, replaced by a neat, newly constructed, antique-style wall structure.

Less than 100 meters from this newly constructed section of the city wall, a section of the wall and the road above it have collapsed and remain unrepaired. It is understood that this is because it involves several residential compounds below, and an agreement has not yet been reached with the residents.

Why was 50 meters of the city wall demolished and rebuilt during this renovation? The Zhongyang County Forestry Bureau, the unit responsible for the project at the time, did not accept an interview with reporters.

Application has been submitted to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Pending review and approval

From November 2023 to June 2026, the state conducted its fourth national cultural relics survey. In accordance with the principle of "covering all that should be surveyed," last year, Zhongyang County submitted relevant information on the Ming Dynasty city wall, including the restored city wall, which is nearly one kilometer long, to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage for application as an immovable cultural relic.

Sun Xiaolong, Director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Zhongyang County: We are striving to include this section of the city wall in the fourth national cultural relics survey. Based on the principles and procedures for cultural relics restoration and repair, if conditions permit, we will carry out repairs to eliminate potential hazards and maintain its original appearance. We have already submitted an application, but the national government has not yet approved it; it is still under review.

Regarding the online discussions about the "demolition and reconstruction" of the Ming Dynasty city wall, Lüliang City has established a special investigation team to fully cooperate with experts from the Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau in conducting an in-depth investigation and verification. The next step will be to deal with the matter seriously in accordance with laws and regulations based on the investigation results. (Source: CCTV News)