After centuries, walls that once protected mighty¹ 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 sweeping² renovation³ 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 sagging⁴. Grass and tree roots that have infiltrated⁵ 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 pending⁶.

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。