Great Wall Preservation: Workers using traditional techniques to preserve famous landmark

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China's Great Wall is undoubtedly one of the greatest feats of architecture and resilience known to man. But what many people might not know is the amount of complex and painstaking work that goes into restoring massive sections of it, which includes a dedication to using only traditional methods so the wall maintains its greatness. CGTN's Frances Kuo has more.

One of the great wonders of the world - The Great Wall's earliest sections date back more than two thousand years.

But the historical marvel is showing its age.

CHENG YONGMAO ENGINEER, GREAT WALL RESTORATION PROJECT "Some of the main factors for the destruction of the Great Wall is the wind, sun, earthquakes and heavy rains. Another reason is the surface damage caused by the disorderly trampling of too many tourists."

The wall's Badaling section outside Beijing is the most popular - attracting 10 million visitors last year.

To ease the strain, local authorities recently implemented a new daily cap of 65-thousand people.

Another approach recently sparked outrage.

Back in 2016, local authorities ordered a 700-year old area of uneven pavement be fixed by covering it with cement. That also covered up the original look of the wall.

And inspired authorities to require that restoration methods follow more traditional techniques.

CHENG YONGMAO ENGINEER, GREAT WALL RESTORATION PROJECT "We have adopted the original method, the original technology and the original materials in order to better extend the historical information of the ancient Great Wall and preserve its value."

That means using laborers who painstakingly lay stones into place with electric hoists.

Installing just one rock which can weigh more than one hundred kilograms takes 45 minutes.

LI JINGDONG WORKER "The bricks used are the bricks of the ancient Great Wall. Most of them are the bricks that collapsed from the original wall. The bricks are used to mend these places."

And it's not just the efforts of two hands - but four legs.

Mules help carry construction materials up some of the wall's steep paths.

Getting The Great Wall back to its original greatness is no easy feat.

But these workers hope the best way to preserve the past is doing it old-school.

CHENG YONGMAO ENGINEER, GREAT WALL RESTORATION PROJECT "So that we won't distort the future inheritance and pass on the original flavor to future generations."

FRANCES KUO, CGTN.