China Underground > China History Images > Thousands of historical sites damaged by torrential rain in Shanxi, China

Thousands of historical sites damaged by torrential rain in Shanxi, China

Last Updated on 2021/10/14

89 historical sites in northern Shanxi Province were critically damaged by heavy rains. Another 750 sites suffered major damage. Some sites date back thousands of years and will require restoration work. Persistent downpours have brought five times the usual amount of rain to the normally arid area

Torrential rains that hit the northern province of Shanxi destroyed at least 19,000 buildings and seriously damaged 1763 historical sites. The rains also claimed the lives of 15 people in the region. Shanxi is famous for being one of the cradles of Chinese culture with more than 5,000 historical sites and over 30,000 ancient architectural structures, more than any other region in the country.

According to the Provincial Department of Cultural Heritage, 89 sites were heavily damaged while another 750 sites suffered major damage, such as collapsing walls, columns, or other architectural elements.

Other minor damages include water infiltration, cracks in walls, and ground instability.

In the ancient city of Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 51 sections of the city wall were damaged. A 25-meter-long section collapsed during the storm.

[Photo/CCTV]

According to local authorities, 300 houses in the heart of the old city were damaged. The historic buildings are mainly made of wood. Residents have been evacuated and the local government has begun restoration or repair work.

The bad weather that lasted four days scourged the Shanxi region, generally characterized by a rather dry climate.

Most of the damage, however, occurred in island areas or remote villages, which could not count on more careful protection.

The Zhenwu Temple, built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) in Fenxi County was particularly badly damaged. The Kuixing Pavilion, where students have been going to pray for good exam results since the 18th century, partially collapsed due to rain.

Source: SCMP

Post Author

Previous

China-Taiwan tensions, Xi Jinping vows reunification with Taiwan

Microsoft to shut down LinkedIn in China due to a “more challenging operating environment”

Next

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.