Built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, the iconic heritage site saw a section of its newly restored roof collapse just a year after renovation, prompting criticism over modern construction standards.
May 22, 2025: A portion of the historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China’s Anhui province collapsed on Monday, sending debris crashing down near visitors. The 650-year-old structure, originally built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, suffered a partial roof collapse that raised serious concerns about recent restoration work completed just a year ago.
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A viral video of the incident shows hundreds of roof tiles falling from the tower, sending dust clouds into the air and panicked tourists fleeing for safety. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the area was relatively empty at the time of the collapse.
Eyewitness video shows the roof of a historic Chinese tower collapsing. The Fengyang Drum Tower was constructed in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty pic.twitter.com/9Z44mR9y6O
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 21, 2025
One eyewitness told local media, “The tile falling lasted for a minute or two,” while another noted, “Had it happened later in the evening, children usually play there—it could have been tragic.”
On the evening of May 19, tiles fell from the Ming Zhongdu Drum Tower in Fengyang County, China.
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) May 19, 2025
Built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, the tower recently underwent repairs costing over 3.41 million yuan.
No injuries were reported, and authorities are currently investigating… pic.twitter.com/mrD9E4ybaD
The tower, an architectural symbol of Fengyang County — also known as the hometown of Ming Dynasty founder Zhu Yuanzhang — underwent major repairs in 2023, with the roof completed in early 2024. Ironically, it was this very section that collapsed, drawing fierce criticism on Chinese social media.
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“The original lasted centuries, the renovation barely a year,” one user remarked. Another wrote, “This is what happens when ancient craftsmanship meets modern shortcuts.”
Authorities have launched an official investigation into the collapse and the quality of recent restoration work.
The Fengyang Drum Tower is located about 320 km from Beijing and remains a major historical and tourist attraction in the region.
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Fengyang Drum Tower collapse, China heritage collapse, Ming Dynasty monument, Chinese architecture failure, historic building restoration, Fengyang tourist site, China tourism, roof collapse China, viral video heritage site collapse