Raves banned on Great Wall of China

China's Great Wall will no longer be the main venue for all-night raves as authorities seek to protect the unique tourist attraction.

The Chinese government has confirmed that it plans to prevent any parties from taking place on the Great Wall as well as introducing legislation to ban other activities including driving and writing directly on the wall.

Each year, the 4,000 mile-long wall attracts around ten million visitors, mainly along the six-mile section close to Badaling. However, from December 1st all visitors will be required to show respect for the ancient site otherwise that could face a fine of up to 500,000 yuan ($62,500).

One State Council official said: "Inappropriate tourist activity has caused damage to the Great Wall and its historical features."

He added that the new rules are designed to limit the damage caused each year, especially as parts of the wall are already showing signs of considerable erosion.

It is believed that the Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin Dynasty in order to protect against potential invasions.