logo
Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video

Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video

USA Today21-05-2025

Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Roof of historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China collapses
Tourists scrambled as the roof of the historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China collapsed. No one was injured.
The Fengyang Drum Tower in China partially collapsed on May 19, with nearby tourists seen scrambling as roof tiles went flying from the 650-year-old building.
No injuries were reported, the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau said.
The tower is in Fengyang County, which is within China's Anhui Province and about 600 miles south of Beijing. The building was originally built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty.
The Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau said it is investigating the incident. It also said the building has undergone maintenance in recent years due to "worsening damage and safety hazards."
Watch: Roof of Fengyang Drum Tower in China partially collapses
The moment when some roof tiles on the Fengyang Drum Tower came loose and caused it to partially collapse was caught on video.
In the video, tiles are seen falling from the building's roof onto its base, in the direction where tourists stood below.
Large dusts of smoke from the falling debris were also emitted during the moment of impact.
China's Fengyang Drum Tower dates back more than 600 years
The Drum Tower was built in 1375 during the eighth year of the Hongwu Emperor's reign of the Ming Dynasty in China, according to the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau.
The original building was destroyed in 1853, during the Xianfeng Emperor's reign of the Qing Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 1995, according to FCCTB.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sipping Tea while Enjoying Opera: The 2025 Beijing Chaoyang International Tea Culture Week Showcases Cultural Charm
Sipping Tea while Enjoying Opera: The 2025 Beijing Chaoyang International Tea Culture Week Showcases Cultural Charm

Associated Press

time03-06-2025

  • Associated Press

Sipping Tea while Enjoying Opera: The 2025 Beijing Chaoyang International Tea Culture Week Showcases Cultural Charm

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 June 2025 - On May 29, the 2025 Beijing Chaoyang International Tea Culture Week officially opened. This year's festival, with a main venue at the Junwangfu Hotel, and a satellite venue at the China Central Place, creates a tea culture feast that blends tea tasting, opera appreciation, cultural experiences, and consumption. A colorful array of theatrical performances lights up the Tea Culture Week The Junwangfu Hotel, a cultural landmark near Liangma River, features Qing Dynasty architecture and traditional Chinese gardens. During the festival, the hotel is filled with the rich aroma of tea. Visitors can purchase tickets to immerse themselves in the 'Royal Tea Gathering' and enjoy the leisurely atmosphere of 'a view with every step, a tea with every seat.' The tea market brings together more than 70 modern tea brands, offering international flavors from New Zealand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Azerbaijan, as well as regional specialties from Yunnan, Guizhou, China's Taiwan region, and others. The market also features tea-themed cultural and creative products. At the 'Floating Fragrance Tea Market' located in the sunken garden of The Ritz-Carlton at China Central Place, more than ten food and beverage businesses, renowned tea companies, and emerging tea drink brands offer special tea drinks, DIY tea-blending experiences, and tea art performances. Guests savor the aroma and flavor of fine teas Sipping tea while enjoying opera—tea in the teahouse, opera on the stage—reflects the romantic lifestyle of ancient Chinese society and has become a novel form of social interaction today. As the scent of tea wafts through the air, the Junwangfu Hotel echoes with traditional melodies and captivating performances. Peking Opera, Yue Opera, Nanyin music, and folk instrumental ensembles take the stage in turn. Between performances, visitors can experience Song-style whisked tea, Chaozhou gongfu tea, and the craftsmanship behind West Lake Dragon Well tea at the Yinan Hall, gaining a deeper appreciation for the cultural richness of tea. From 'Tea and the World' to 'Tea and the City' and 'Tea and Culture,' Chaoyang District has hosted the Tea Culture Festival for three consecutive years, consistently promoting the theme: 'Sharing a Cup of Fine Chinese Tea with the World.' The event continues to elevate Chinese tea as a cultural symbol that speaks to the world. Once, the fragrance of tea traveled the ancient Tea Horse Road and the Silk Road to reach distant lands. Today, tea is grown in more than 60 countries and regions, with over two billion people worldwide enjoying it. 'With Chaoyang's tea, we welcome friends from around the world.' Chaoyang District extends a warm invitation to global friends to join us in savoring fine teas and traditional operas. Hashtag: #2025BeijingChaoyangInternationalTeaCultureWeek The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Tiles Fall Off the Roof of 600-Year-Old Tower, Sending Tourists Scrambling
Tiles Fall Off the Roof of 600-Year-Old Tower, Sending Tourists Scrambling

Yahoo

time22-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Tiles Fall Off the Roof of 600-Year-Old Tower, Sending Tourists Scrambling

Much of the roof of the Fengyang Drum Tower crumbled around 6:30 p.m. local time on May 19 The tower itself is a relatively new renovation, but the structure's base dates back to 1375 in the Ming Dynasty No casualties were reported, and the site is closed for nowTourists were sent running from a popular tourist site in China after tiles on a historic building's roof unexpectedly fell roughly two stories to the ground. The roof of the Fengyang Drum Tower, built during the Ming Dynasty in 1375, collapsed as hundreds of its tiles slid down, followed by a large plume of debris dust, according to video footage. Falling debris nearly hit some visitors, eyewitnesses told BBC, though a Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau statement confirmed there were no injuries as a result. 'The tile falling lasted for a minute or two,' a witness told Yangcheng Evening News, a state-sanctioned newspaper. Authorities directed tourists and bystanders away from the area as they secured the scene. Fengyang county officials said an investigation is in progress, per BBC. Fengyang Drum Tower is closed for the time being as repairs begin, the outlet reported. The tower most recently underwent repairs to address minor damage to the roof, per CNN. The tower itself is not from the Ming Dynasty, only the base; the tower sustained the bulk of damages through the years, and was largely rebuilt in 1995. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer , from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The drum tower in Fengyang is one of the largest still standing throughout China, the outlet reported. Such structures often marked the center of a village and served as a signal tower. Read the original article on People

Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video
Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video

USA Today

time21-05-2025

  • USA Today

Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video

Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video Show Caption Hide Caption Roof of historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China collapses Tourists scrambled as the roof of the historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China collapsed. No one was injured. The Fengyang Drum Tower in China partially collapsed on May 19, with nearby tourists seen scrambling as roof tiles went flying from the 650-year-old building. No injuries were reported, the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau said. The tower is in Fengyang County, which is within China's Anhui Province and about 600 miles south of Beijing. The building was originally built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty. The Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau said it is investigating the incident. It also said the building has undergone maintenance in recent years due to "worsening damage and safety hazards." Watch: Roof of Fengyang Drum Tower in China partially collapses The moment when some roof tiles on the Fengyang Drum Tower came loose and caused it to partially collapse was caught on video. In the video, tiles are seen falling from the building's roof onto its base, in the direction where tourists stood below. Large dusts of smoke from the falling debris were also emitted during the moment of impact. China's Fengyang Drum Tower dates back more than 600 years The Drum Tower was built in 1375 during the eighth year of the Hongwu Emperor's reign of the Ming Dynasty in China, according to the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau. The original building was destroyed in 1853, during the Xianfeng Emperor's reign of the Qing Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 1995, according to FCCTB. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store