The wall, dating from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), broke at Dinghuai Gate, Liaojia Lane and Lion Mountain.

The biggest opening stretches 20 meters at Lion Mountain in Xiaguan District and a crack near the opening might lead to a further collapse, experts said.

Damage to the wall was usually traced to water erosion or tree roots, said Ge Weicheng, head of the office in charge of the ramparts under municipal administration for cultural relics.

He said the damage at Liaojia Lane was caused by torrential rain and tree roots.

The wall was built by the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, after he selected Nanjing as his capital. The city is now the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

The wall was originally 33.7 kilometers long with 13 gates, but only 23.43 kilometers and four gates remain. The existing length still exceeds the famous walls of Beijing and Paris by 0.776 kilometers and 3.67 kilometers respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2003)