Work starts on ancient pagoda
Print Edition
RENOVATIONS on a heavily damaged wooden pagoda, believed to be the oldest and tallest of its kind in the world, began on Thursday after more than two decades of delays.
Restorers plan to reinforce the 958-year-old pagoda, located in Yingxian County, north China’s Shanxi Province, as the tower leans northeast. Several sections of the pagoda’s wood, which has become rotten, will also be repaired according to the provincial cultural heritage administration.
With a budget of 7 million yuan (US$1.14 million), the revamp is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The 67-meter-tall pagoda was built with brackets and sockets, without nails. Visitors have been prevented from climbing to the second floor of the five-tier tower.
While experts have long been concerned that the tower is on the brink of collapse, its revamp plan was only approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage this year.
The plan, initiated in 1989, was subject to lengthy reviews by professionals and authorities. There has been no meaningful action taken because of financial issues, practical difficulties as well as concerns on how alterations may be viewed by UNESCO, said officials.
In 2012, it was put on a tentative list of sites applying for UNESCO World Heritage status.
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