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The drum tower in Fengyang, a magnificent historical symbol built in 1375, recently suffered a roof collapse just one year after renovations. The incident occurred this past Monday afternoon, when hundreds of tiles from the tower's high roof suddenly fell, creating a chaotic scene and a cloud of dust.
The drum tower in Fengyang, a majestic and magnificent historical symbol, began construction in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty. For centuries, this towering structure has echoed with the solemn sounds of drums, signaling important ceremonies and rhythmically marking the passage of time, becoming the resonant heart of Fengyang. According to ancient Chinese documents, it is not only one of the largest drum towers in the country but also a tourist destination attracting millions of visitors each year, peacefully situated in Fengyang County, Anhui Province, about 320 km south of Beijing.
The drum tower in Fuyang is one of the largest drum towers in China.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon local time. Images circulating online show hundreds of roof tiles from the tower's high roof suddenly falling onto the courtyard below, creating a large cloud of dust. The tranquil site was disrupted by the sound of falling tiles and the panic of visitors.
The photo shows the damaged roof tiles on May 20th.
“The roof tile falling lasted about 1-2 minutes,” a witness told the Yangcheng Evening News – a newspaper with content censored by the Chinese government. Another witness described hearing the tiles falling one by one while standing in a shop near the tower entrance.
“There was no one in the square at the time, so no one was injured,” the man told the Beijing News, another Chinese state-run media outlet. “If this had happened a little later, more children playing near the tower after dinner might have been in danger.” The local Department of Culture and Tourism said no casualties were reported and that “the incident is under investigation.”
At the moment the roof of the tower collapsed, there were quite a few tourists in front of it.
According to the Straits Times, this drum tower was built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, consisting of a raised base and the structure above. The base was recognized as a provincial cultural heritage site in 1989.
However, the upper part of the structure was destroyed in 1853 during the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995. Officials in Fuyang County confirmed that the damage was mainly to the upper part of the structure, while the Ming Dynasty base was preserved.
Numerous videos circulating on social media show sections of the roof collapsing before the tiles slide off, creating a large cloud of dust.
Since 2017, the structure has shown signs of damage to the roof tiles and eaves. Notably, the tile-falling incident occurred just one year after minor roof repairs were completed.
Fuyang County is famous as the birthplace of Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu), the founder of the Ming Dynasty. During his reign, China experienced a period of prosperity with thriving international trade and rapid population growth. This was also the time when the country transitioned from using silver and gold to paper money in its monetary system.
