CRI听力:Netizens Fury over Defaced Forbidden City Vat

The victimized water vat is located in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City.

The names scratched into the vat appear to be "Zhang Tao and Liu Ya," and are carved between two handles on the over 300-year-old bronze relic, surrounded by a heart-shaped outline.

Shan Jixiang, Director of the Palace Museum, says police have been called in to investigate.

"We've invited professionals to assess the damage and have reported it to the police. Tourist misbehavior has been on the decline in recent years, but precautionary measures will be kept in place to prevent such things from taking place again. The offending tourists should be publicly shamed."

Police are calling on the couple to turn themselves in.

The defacing of cultural relics by Chinese tourists isn't a new phenomenon.

Around two years ago, a Chinese national sparked outrage after he wrote his name on an ancient carving at the Luxor Temple in Egypt.

And the damaged vat this time is not the first in the Forbidden City to fall victim of defacement.

Shen Lixia with the Palace Museum still remembers a similar incident back in 2013.

"The written words read 'Liang Qiqi came here for a visit.' Through our efforts, the characters were eventually removed. Fortunately, that incident didn't leave any permanent damage to the iron vat."

Tour guide Sun Yan says while they constantly remind tourists to follow the rules, some will still end up breaking the rules.

"Earlier this summer, a number of tourists jumped over the fence, some threw cigarette butts into the vats after breaking the smoking ban in the Forbidden City. I think more should be done to improve the management and better protect the relics."

Shan Jixiang with the Palace Museum says they've set up their own blacklist to ensure offenders can't become repeat offenders.

"Visitors need to register their names when buying tickets. Those who behave badly in the museum will be blacklisted and not allowed entry ever again. This step has done a lot to help ensure order."

A crackdown on inscribing one's name on the Great Wall began nearly a decade ago after it was found that a growing number of tour groups who were visiting sections of the so-called Wild Wall, or areas which have not been restored, were carving their names.

Violators now face fines of up to 50-thousand yuan.

It's being suggested that fine should be extended to other cultural sites across China, as the current fine is only 200 yuan.