The historical Fengyang drum towerlocated in the Chinese province of Anhui and with more than six centuries, it suffered a partial collapse this Monday that generated shock among tourists and neighbors in the area. The incident occurred just two months after the completion of a restoration project that cost about 2.9 million yuan (about US $ 473,000).
According to official media, the roof of the east side of the tower began to collapse around 18:30 (local time) on Monday, May 19. In seconds, hundreds of tiles detached themselves from the upper structure, generating a large cloud of dust and causing fear among those present. Fortunately, no injuries were recorded.
The tower, considered the largest of its kind in China, was originally built in 1375 during the Ming dynasty. Its original base has been standing since then, although the upper part was rebuilt in 1995 after having been damaged in the nineteenth century during the Qing dynasty.
The collapse turned on the alarms
What worries the authorities most is that the tower had recently been subjected to integral restoration, which extended from September 2023 to March 2024. The work included works on the roof, cornice boards and the general structure of the building. According to the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism, sporadic falls of tiles had already been recorded in recent years, which motivated the intervention.
In Chinese social networks like Weibo – the local equivalent to X – the collapse became a trend under the hashtag “Collapse of the Fengyang drum tower.” Many users were outraged by the quality of the work. “These tiles are like Tofu Cheese,” said a user. Others lamented for the lost historical value and asked that responsibilities be refined.
Investigation opens
After the collapse, the authorities quickly evacuated the area, cordoned off the perimeter and formed a research team. The companies in charge of the design, construction and supervision of the restoration were cited to appear there. Experts in heritage and architecture were also summoned to determine what failed in the structure.
Since Tuesday, May 20, the tower will remain closed to the public and an estimated date for its reopening was not reported.
A cultural symbol under threat
The drum tower not only represents an architectural icon: it is also a key piece in Fengyang County identity, a birthplace of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. During his reign, China lived a prosperity stage promoted by international trade and population growth, a period in which paper money was also introduced.
With this episode, the Chinese government faces a new controversy in the preservation of cultural heritage, in a context where many historical works are being restored to boost tourism.
Meanwhile, in social networks, between indignation and sadness, messages of hope also emerged: “We fall, but we lift ourselves stronger. Fengyang will know how to overcome this,” a user wrote.
Source: Ambito
