Heavy rains damage thousands of historical sites in Shanxi, northern China
- A total of 89 sites were ‘critically damaged’, meaning they had major structural issues; while 750 sites were ‘relatively seriously damaged’
- Many of the sites date back hundreds or even thousands of years and will require substantial restoration work
A total of 19,000 buildings were destroyed during the downpour in the province, dubbed the country’s ancient building museum because it has more historical sites than any other region in China, including more than 50,000 immovable historical sites and over 30,000 ancient structures.
A total of 89 sites were “critically damaged”, meaning they had major structural issues. 750 sites were “relatively seriously impacted” with wreckage to walls or supporting beams collapsed, the provincial Cultural Heritage Department said.
Other more minor damages included water damage, cracks in walls and impairment on the ground surrounding the structures, the authority said.
In particular, Pingyao Ancient City, a Unesco World Heritage Site, saw 51 sections of its city walls damaged. A 25 metre-long section of the wall that collapsed during the storm.
Inside the ancient city, more than 300 ancient houses were partly wrecked by the downpour. Residents of the affected properties have been evacuated, and the local government has started repairs, according to the provincial authority.