They have been charged with destroying a cultural relic, The China Daily, a state-owned media outlet, reported. The Great Wall, which served as a fortress protecting the territory from invasions under successive Chinese empires, spans more than 13, 000 miles.... The most well-preserved section is around 5, 499 miles long.... In 1987, the entire wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. But challenges to preserving the wall have mounted....

Police say two people are suspected of trying to create a shortcut for their construction work. The two have been detained and the case is under further investigation.... The 38-year-old man and 55-year-old woman were working near the affected area, the 32nd Great Wall. They dug a" big gap" by widening an existing cavity of the Great Wall so that their excavator could pass through it.... Police say they wanted to reduce the distance they had to travel....