A traditional Chinese landmark, the Fengyang Drum Tower, partially collapsed on Monday, May 19, when its tiled roof unexpectedly collapsed in the middle of the day. The centuries-old tower, dating back to 1375, has been a favorite among tourists for years in Anhui province, some 321 km west of Beijing. Nothing was reported injured even though the incident happened while the site was filled with tourists.
A viral video of the collapse went viral on social media, with the moment the roof of the tower came crashing down, releasing a thick cloud of dust. Tourists in the vicinity were seen standing a mere distance away, causing alarm online. The clip was widely shared by the Instagram account ‘In Zhejiang’, where the post received more than 35K likes within a day.
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Commenters responded with shock, sadness, and disbelief. One commenter stated, “Very sad for them. Constructed in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, and restored/renovated a few times since then. Hope that they can be restored once again.” Another questioned the authenticity of the video, stating, “I swear with all the AI technology these days… I don’t know if this is true or not.”
Some were shocked at the callous response of passersby. “People not budging an inch as though it’s just another normal day?” said one. Others were more sad at the loss of an icon of their culture: “It’s sad to see history go down like this. Hopefully they will restore it soon.” Another user stated, “Omg. What happened? I hope no one was injured.”
The incident was confirmed by the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Fengyang County, which added that an investigation is ongoing to find out the cause. In a statement, the bureau said: “The roof of Drum Tower in Fengyang, China has collapsed.”
Formerly one of China’s largest towers, the Drum Tower was not only appreciated for its architecture but also played a traditional role historically as a marker for the beginning of ceremonies and for telling time. Several users on the internet observed that the tower had been repaired in the past, which added to the speculation about its structural integrity.
