Watchman of the Ancient Great Wall

Zhang Heshan, a 62-year-old man in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, was dubbed a “watchman” by netizens following reports that he had protected a local section of the Ming-era Great Wall for nearly 40 years. Every day, Zhang inspects the wall, picking up fallen bricks and waste left by tourists. He also records damage to the wall on a computer with the help of his son. Since the protection work has taken up so much time, Zhang has been poor for much of his life and was mocked by other villagers who exploited the wall as a tourist haunt. Nevertheless, he will persist in his work. “The Great Wall will prove that my dedication is right,” he told reporters.