[Filephoto]

The post stirred a wave of discussion online. Some criticized the offending behavior, saying, "I don't want to visit the Palace Museum only to find relics being carved by immoral tourists." Other netizens said it is commonplace that ancient artifacts in Palace Museum are being defaced and legislation should be introduced.

A staff member of the Palace Museum said that similar incidents take place every year and that the root cause is that the consequence of breaking the law is too low.

People, including emperors and celebrities, have a long history of leaving their handwriting at scenic spots. Their marks are all over China's famous mountains, temples and have even become an essential part of the scenery. Influenced by this "fashion", ordinary people also learn to mimic the act, though most of their carvings are words like "I have been here", and totally lack any aesthetic value.