China sees red as Ferrari damages ancient wall

[Saint in Paradise]

Chinese citizens are up in arms after a Ferrari sports car left tyre tracks atop Nanjing's ancient city wall, possibly permanently damaging the protected landmark.

A crane hoisted the car to the top of the wall and video of the event showed the blood-red Ferrari doing 360 degree turns, with cleaners trying in vain to scrub

dark black tyre marks from the grey brick the following day.

 

The affected section near the eastern city's Gate of China -- a renowned ancient ceremonial gateway -- dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and is said

to be among the best preserved sections of the wall.

 

The Nanjing government has also "reprimanded" the officials responsible as the event took place without higher authorisation, Xinhua said.

 

But it might be too late to reverse the impact, experts say.

"The (structural) damage may be invisible at the moment, but very detrimental," Yang Guoqing, a preservation expert, was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

 

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/motorsport/news/article/-/13648084/china-sees-red-as-ferrari-damages-ancient-wall/

 

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