China is set to start assessing the level of damage to the Great Wall. At the moment, less than 10 percent of one of the Seven Wonders of the World is considered to be well-preserved.

The move to assess the damage to the ancient structure comes 10 years after the country introduced protection laws for the Great Wall of China. The first law introduced was called "Great Wall Protection Code" and was followed by other laws aimed at preserving the historic site. Despite these laws, it has been found out that the Great Wall continues to deteriorate.

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People have allegedly been stealing bricks from the Great Wall to build houses. Poor villagers in Lulong County have reportedly knocked out some of the thick gray bricks of the wall to build their homes. It is unclear if these people have been fined as it has been reported that they pay up to 5,000 yuan ($723) to take bricks from the Great Wall of China.  At least one-third of the whole structure has also been turned into rubble. The rapid deterioration has also been linked to the number of tourists visiting the site, The Telegraph reported.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said in a statement that inspection groups would be formed to investigate the state of the Great Wall of China in each of the provinces it passes through in the country. The project will reportedly last until October this year.

Time reported that officials from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage added that they would begin inspections and random checks along the wall to ensure that local authorities are implementing the protection laws.

The Great Wall Society's vice-chairman, Dong Yaohui, said in a statement, "It doesn't have large-scale damage, but if you accumulate the different damaged parts, it is very serious. The problem is we spend a lot of money on repairing the Great Wall instead of preserving the Great Wall."

The Great Wall stretches for thousands of miles from the east coast to the edge of the Gobi desert - it passes through many villages and provinces. The construction of the Great Wall began in the 3rd Century BC. 

Tagschina, Great Wall of China, historical site, Preservation, investigation, bricks removed, villagers, build homes, tourists