Latest news with #Ming
India Today
7 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Nature's Timekeepers: Animals That Outlive Humans
Nature's Timekeepers: Animals That Outlive Humans BY: Kashmik Singh Chouhan The Greenland shark holds the title for the world's longest-living vertebrate. Swimming in the cold waters of the Arctic, this ancient creature can live over 400 years, with some individuals born before the 1600s still alive today! Greenland Shark – The Deep-Sea Elder Also known as Arctica islandica, the ocean quahog clam has been recorded to live for over 500 years. One specimen, nicknamed "Ming," was estimated to be born in 1499—older than the Mughal Empire! Ocean Quahog Clam – The 500-Year Bivalve These massive whales native to Arctic waters can live for over 200 years. With a thick blubber coat and a slow metabolism, bowhead whales defy age, surviving through generations of oceanic history. Bowhead Whale – Arctic Giant with a Long Life Galápagos tortoises are famous for their longevity, often living well past 100 years. Some have even crossed the 170-year mark. Their calm pace and island lifestyle likely contribute to their impressive lifespan. Galápagos Tortoise – The Slow-Moving Centenarian Living in the Pacific waters, red sea urchins may not look impressive—but they can live over 200 years! Despite their simple appearance, their bodies resist aging remarkably well. Red Sea Urchin – A Spiny Survivor While most koi live 25-40 years, there are rare stories of koi like 'Hanako,' who reportedly lived to be 226 years old in Japan. With proper care, they're more than just decorative—they're legends. Koi Fish – Pond Royalty with Centuries to Spare
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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.
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Watch: Roof slides off historic Ming dynasty tower in China
Eyewitness footage filmed showed the roof of a historic tower in China's Fengyang county collapsing. Reuters was able to verify the location of footage from building structure, characters on the wall and roadmap layout seen on file and street view images. The date was verified through a statement from the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau. A statement from local officials said tiles on the east side of the roof of the Fengyang Drum Tower fell around 6.30pm local time (11.30am Irish time) on Monday. The tower is over 600 years old, having been constructed in 1375 during the Ming dynasty.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tourists scramble as 600-year-old Chinese tower partially collapses
Visitors to a centuries-old tourist site in eastern China were sent scrambling after hundreds of roof tiles came loose and cascaded more than two stories to the ground. The Fengyang Drum Tower—built in 1375 and used to announce the beginning of ceremonies and the time of day—is one of the largest such towers in China, according to state media. The tower is a major tourist attraction in Anhui province, which is around 200 miles away from Beijing, China's capital. But on Monday the quiet around the site was shattered as hundreds of roof tiles began slipping from the roof and crashing to the ground, raising a huge cloud of gray-brown dust. 'The tile falling lasted for a minute or two,' one eyewitness told Yangcheng Evening News, a state-controlled newspaper. Another witness described how he heard the crisp sound of one tile falling after another from a shop at the entrance of the Drum Tower. 'There was no one in the square and no one was injured,' he told state media outlet The Beijing News. 'If it happened a little later, there would be many children playing (near the tower) after dinner.' The local culture and tourism bureau said no casualties had been reported and that the 'situation is under investigation.' The collapse happened just a year after the tower was renovated following minor damage to the roof. However, the building consists of two parts: the original Ming-era tower base and the tower on top of it. Damages mainly happened to the latter, which was once rebuilt in 1995, local officials say. Fengyang county is famous for its history and culture, and was the hometown of Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor), founder of the Ming dynasty. He oversaw a prosperous era fueled by strong international trade and a growing population. During this time, China replaced its traditional currency of silver and gold with paper money.
