Clinging to help

A maintenance worker, hoisted by a crane, clears trees growing on the walls of an ancient pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Tuesday. The tower, 23 meters high, is nearly 600 years old. [Photo/ZHANG JIE/FOR CHINA DAILY]

A maintenance worker, hoisted by a crane, clears trees growing on the walls of an ancient pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Tuesday. The tower, 23 meters high, is nearly 600 years old. [Photo/ZHANG JIE/FOR CHINA DAILY]

A maintenance worker, hoisted by a crane, clears trees growing on the walls of an ancient pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Tuesday. The tower, 23 meters high, is nearly 600 years old. [Photo/ZHANG JIE/FOR CHINA DAILY]