China's Great Wall of Qi, the oldest of its kind in the country and predecessor of the more famous Great Wall, is set to become a national cultural park.

Built over 2,500 years ago in the ancient state of Qi, now Shandong province, the wall is a significant cultural heritage site.

Stretching over 618.89 kilometers, it runs from Jinan in the west to Qingdao where it meets the sea, with passes, gates, castles and beacon towers along the way.

Construction of the Shandong section of the Qi Great Wall National Cultural Park will soon get underway, following a meeting held on Feb 10.

Over the past few years, Jinan has invested over 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) across more than 10 projects to repair and protect important sections of the Qi Great Wall.

Last April, construction began on the Jinyangguan section, also known as Jingyang Pass, of the Qi Great Wall. The project includes a trail, a greenway, museums, a commercial street, and improved landscapeing.

The protection and utilization of the Qi Great Wall project (Jinyangguan section) has been listed as a key project for the construction of the National Cultural Park during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), with a budget of 80 million yuan from the central government for 2022.

In September 2022, the "Regulations on the Protection of the Great Wall of Qi in Shandong Province" were passed by the Standing Committee of the 13th People's Congress of Shandong Province and became effective on Jan 1, 2023. The regulations demonstrate the commitment of local authorities to protecting this invaluable cultural site.