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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Why did tiles come crashing down from China's 600-year-old Fengyang Tower?
Hundreds of roof tiles tumbled off the historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China's Anhui province recently, in an incident that was captured on video and rapidly circulated on social media platforms. While no injuries were reported, the spectacle of the collapse has raised alarm over the quality of recent restoration work at the 14th-century structure. What was the reason behind China's Fengyang tower collapse? The collapse comes less than a year after a major renovation project was completed at the tourist site, located in Fengyang county, the birthplace of Hongwu, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the tower had undergone a roof restoration in 2023, part of a broader conservation effort reportedly costing 2.9 million yuan (US$402,600). The local culture and tourism bureau has launched a formal investigation into the incident, acknowledging growing scrutiny over the integrity of the repair work. Who carried out the renovation and were they qualified? The report alleged that the contractor hired for the 2023 restoration had a history of illegally subcontracting projects to unqualified personnel, enabling them to operate under the contractor's license. The same firm was previously responsible for repairs at a Ming dynasty ancestral hall in 2015 that was severely damaged in a fire during renovation. Adding to concerns, China National Radio revealed that a drone inspection in December 2024 had detected cracks in the newly renovated roof, just months before the collapse. How has China responded to the Ming dynasty-era building collapse? In response to the incident, Xinhua, China's state news agency, called for a comprehensive probe into the bidding process, financial arrangements, and construction quality linked to the project. State broadcaster CCTV further complicated the matter by reporting that the tower's earlier renovation in 1995 had been conducted illegally, though local officials told that the 1995 work had received formal approval. These conflicting narratives have reignited long-standing public concerns about lax oversight in heritage conservation projects across China. What are 'tofu buildings' and how do they relate to this collapse? The term 'tofu buildings' has resurfaced in China's national discourse following the incident, a widely used slang term in China describing shoddily built structures that crumble under pressure. While the Fengyang Drum Tower incident caused no casualties, it drew comparisons to deadlier disasters in recent memory. In 2023, a school gymnasium roof collapsed in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province, killing 11 people. Investigators blamed the accident on the improper stacking of perlite, a highly absorbent material that became dangerously heavy during rainfall. In 2022, an eight-storey building in Changsha, Hunan province, caved in, leaving 54 dead. The probe revealed that the structure had been designed and constructed by individuals lacking the necessary qualifications, with fatal consequences. What's next for the Fengyang Drum Tower and China's heritage safety protocols? With state media and public sentiment pressing for accountability, authorities are under pressure to tighten supervision over historical restoration projects. The Fengyang Drum Tower, constructed in 1375, stands as both a tourist magnet and a symbol of Ming-era architectural heritage. But the incident has cast a shadow over conservation standards, particularly in provinces rich in ancient structures but plagued by inconsistent oversight.
The Star
23-05-2025
- The Star
Collapse of historic Chinese building's roof revives concerns about construction standards
An investigation is being held into the collapse of a roof at a tourist site in central China following a major renovation project that finished last year. Hundreds of tiles fell off the roof of the Fengyang Drum Tower in Anhui province on Monday evening in an incident captured on film that was widely shared online. No injuries were reported. Fengyang county was the hometown of Hongwu, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the tower is one of the main local tourist attractions. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The local culture and tourism bureau said the collapse was under investigation and the incident prompted media questions about the quality of the repair work carried out on the site. The tower was built in 1375 in the early years of the Ming dynasty and it underwent extensive repairs in 1995. Further repair works on the roof began in 2023 and finished last year. The most recent project cost 2.9 million yuan (US$402,600), according to digital news platform which cited local procurement data. Its report alleged that the contractor involved had a record of illegally subcontracting renovations to unqualified personnel and allowing them to undertake projects under its name. The same contractor had also been in charge of repairing a large Ming dynasty ancestral hall in 2015, which ended up severely damaged in a fire during renovation, the report added. Meanwhile China National Radio said a drone inspection in December had found cracks in the new roof. State news agency Xinhua called for a thorough investigation into the project's bidding process, finances and construction work. Other media reports highlighted other alleged inconsistencies in the project. State broadcaster CCTV said the 1995 renovations had been illegally carried out, although Thepaper reported that a local official said the work had been approved. The collapse has reignited long-standing concerns over 'tofu' buildings – a phrase commonly used to describe poorly constructed projects that are at risk of collapsing. Some of the most notorious incidents in recent years include the collapse of a school gymnasium roof in Qiqihar in Heilongjiang province that killed 11 people in 2023. The accident was attributed to poor construction practices, specifically the improper stacking of highly absorbent perlite on the roof, which became overloaded after absorbing excessive water during heavy rain. The previous year, 54 people died when an eight-storey building in Changsha in Hunan province collapsed. Investigators concluded that the building had been designed and built by people without the proper qualifications to do so. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Roof of historic Ming Dynasty tower collapses in China
Hundreds of tiles have fallen from the roof of a centuries old tower in China's Anhui province, smashing to the ground near visitors to the site. Eyewitness footage showed sections of the roof collapsing, narrowly missing a number of people. Local media cited a Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau statement that said no one was injured in the incident, which happened at around 18:30 local time (11:30 BST) on Monday. The Drum Tower - reportedly the largest in China - was built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty but had undergone an extensive rebuild in 1995. Officials for the county, around 200 miles away from the capital Beijing, said an investigation was under way, in a post shared on China's instant messaging app, WeChat. Fengyang county is famous for being the hometown of the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor - Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. Local authorities reportedly moved bystanders from the scene following the collapse and secured the area. The investigation will be looking at the repair project's design and construction, a statement seen by local media added. Reports say supervision units were also sent to the site with experts invited to assist in the investigation and verification process. The tower is closed while repairs are carried out, with a reopening date due to be announced at a later date.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- 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
