A Great Wall guardian - Video

The Great Wall, a symbol of China, has for thousands of years protected residents from invasion. Its defensive role has long ended, but those living nearby are still working hard to safeguard this ancient landmark.

Yu Haiwen, 49, hails from Baiyangyu village, Qian'an city in north China's Hebei Province. The village nestles snugly near a section of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Yu spent a lot of his childhood there, patrolling the wall relics with his father. He said that the fun the cultural relics had brought him was unforgettable.

Yu left the village in his 30s to earn a decent income. Out of his affection for the Great Wall, he returned to his hometown in 2005 and ran a rural inn near the Wall as a source of livelihood and to better preserve this historic relic.

In 2016, Yu himself was hired as a Great Wall keeper by the local government, patrolling a 4.4-km section of the Great Wall every three or four days. While conducting safety inspections of the wall section, he also raises awareness of Great Wall protection among tourists and local villagers.

Yu Haiwen picks up trash on the Great Wall in Qian'an City, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Yu Haiwen patrols the Great Wall in Qian'an City, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)