China's Great Wall raises defenses against party-goers

China has banned partying, stunts and other"inappropriate behavior" on the Great Wall to protect one of its top tourist attractions from erosion.

The Great Wall, which snakes its way across more than 6,400 km (4,000 miles), receives an estimated 10 million visitors a year, mostly to the mere 10 km opened to tourists at Badaling, the nearest stretch to Beijing.

More adventurous visitors climb wilder, crumblier sections that are not officially open to the public and stretches near the capital have become popular sites for summer raves.

The new rules, issued by the State Council, or China's cabinet, prohibit the driving of vehicles on the wall or group activities such as parties.

"Inappropriate tourist exploration has caused damage to the Great Wall and its historical features," the government's Web site on Wednesday cited a State Council official as saying.