China is preparing the first comprehensive investigation of the Great Wall section that was built during Qin Dynasty (475-221 BC), according to the China Great Wall Society Wednesday.

The program will start in April or May next year, said Dong Yaohui, vice chairman and secretary general of China Great Wall Society.

The society has already performed a comprehensive investigation into the section built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The section built during Qin Dynasty, built more than 2,000 years ago, is experiencing extreme man-made and natural destruction. The section is poorly understood or protected, Dong said.

China's first emperor, Qinshihuang, founder of Qin Dynasty, had the Great Wall built as a defense against attack by the Xiongnu, an ancient nationality in north China.

Researchers believed that the vast project was built by over one million workers in 12 years.

Rebuilt many times through the centuries, and many sections of the wall have suffered serious damage.

Since the 1980s, the Chinese government has allocated special funds to restore this national monument.

?(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2005)