The relics of an ancient wall in Hubei Province's Xiangfan were totally
demolished during local urban construction on Thursday night, an official from the State
Bureau of Cultural Relics said. Zhan Dehua, an official from the Cultural Relics
Bureau, told China Daily the bureau was considering a rescue plan and it will also
co-operate with the Ministry of Construction to prevent further damage.
The demolished 58-metre-long ancient defence wall, built during the Song Dynasty
(960-1279), stands in the way of the Hanjiang Avenue, which is under construction,
Xiangfan's key project.
According to a report in the People's Daily, despite appeals from Beijing-based relics
protection experts, opposition from the Hubei Province's cultural relics bureau, and local
relics protection officials on site, a portion of the ancient wall relics was still
removed on the night of November 11.
The remains of the wall relics were completely demolished on Thursday night, Zhan said.
An official with the city's cultural relics bureau said a meeting was held on the
construction site, but she refused to elaborate. The construction bureau official said he
knew nothing about the event.
Xiangfan was one of China's 99 well-known historical and cultural sites prescribed by
the State Council.
Fu Shuang, an official from the Construction Ministry said residents and local
officials in the well-known historical sites should be more conscious of relics
protection.
Given that contradictions between urban construction and relics protection are growing
acute as China is leaping forward in its modernization drive, solutions to the dilemma are
urgently needed, Zhao Zhongshu, a relics expert said. |
