After centuries, walls that once protected mighty emperors are beginning to show their age.
历经几个世纪，曾经保护位高权重的一国之君的城墙开始显现出岁月的痕迹。
The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, began a sweeping renovation of a 233-meter-long section of the walls north of the First Historical Archives inside the Xihua Gate.
北京故宫博物院(又称紫禁城)日前启动一项大规模修缮工程，修缮区域为西华门内第一历史档案馆以北一段233米的城墙。
The restoration work would focus on the inside of the city wall.
修缮工作将以城墙内侧修缮为主。

Experts recently finished a survey on the condition of the 3,437 meters of wall. It shows hidden hazards:
专家近日完成了对故宫3437米城墙状况的勘察，发现一些隐患：
Some sections have been hollowed out over time, and are sagging. Grass and tree roots that have infiltrated gaps pose another major threat to their stability.
随着时间的流逝，部分城墙出现空心区、正在塌陷。长在城墙缝隙之间的草、树根也对墙体的稳固构成威胁。
The western walls have sustained the most damage, Shan Jixiang, the museum's curator said.
故宫博物院院长单霁翔表示，故宫西部区域的城墙受损最严重。
A 233-meter section on that side has been chosen as the first target for renovation. Plans for the rest are pending.
该区域一段233米的城墙被选为第一个修缮对象。其他城墙的修缮方案还在制定中。
Shan said he expects the whole project covering all endangered sections to be completed by October 2020, when the Forbidden City celebrates its 600th birthday.
单霁翔表示，他预计涉及所有危墙的整个修缮工程将于2020年10月完成，届时恰逢紫禁城庆祝600岁生日。