The daily number of visitors to a popular section of the Great Wall of China has been limited to 65,000, in order to tackle over-crowding.
The China National Tourism Administration has introduced the measures at the Badaling section of the Great Wall and introduced online ticket sales to ease congestion, according to a China Daily report.
“The restrictions were put in place to relieve pressure and safety concerns created by the large crowds at Badaling, located in Beijing’s Yanqing district,” said the report.
In 2018, the Badaling Great Wall received more than 9.9 million visitors, with numbers reaching 80,000 a day during peak season, according to China Daily.
“As part of a more fluid ticketing system, admission tickets carrying the visitor’s name will be available through an online booking system from June 1,” said the report.
Visitors, including individuals and group tours, will be able to purchase the admission ticket seven days in advance using a valid ID or passport.
Song Rui, director of the Tourism Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily: “This is not the first time that a scenic spot has adopted online ticketing, and it will reduce waiting time and provide a more comfortable experience for the visitors.”
News of congestion at the Great Wall follows concern about over-crowding at other sites, including Everest and Venice.
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