A tourist has been blamed for burning down a sacred Chinese temple through their improper use of incense and candles.
The fire broke out at Wenchang Pavilion on Fenghuang Mountain in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, on November 12th.
Dramatic footage captured the three-storey building engulfed in orange flames as thick clouds of black smoke drifted into the sky.
Large chunks of the building’s wooden roof could also be seen tumbling to the ground as the temple fell to pieces amid the blaze.
Officials said there were no casualties following the fire and that the it did not spread to any surrounding forest areas.
Investigators said preliminary findings showed that the fire was caused by a visitor’s improper use of incense and candles.
Authorities assured that the pavilion, built in October 2009, contained no cultural relics.
They also stated that all building within the temple complex were modern constructions with no ancient architectural remains.
The fire broke out at Wenchang Pavilion on Fenghuang Mountain in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, on November 12th
Officials said there were no casualties following the fire and that the it did not spread to any surrounding forest areas
Dramatic footage captured the three-storey building engulfed in orange flames as thick clouds of black smoke drifted into the sky
Official notices said the pavilion was comissioned in 2008, built within a reinforced concrete frame, and completed in 2009.
The structure had been managed by the neighbouring Yongqing Temple after completion.
Historical records said the original Yongqing Temple dated back many centuries, though the current buildings were rebuilt in the 1990s.
Local authorities said further action would be taken in line with the investigation results and that the safety measures would be strengthened to reduce the fire risks.
Restoration work is expected to begin once assessments are complete.
Local officials have stated that they intend to rebuild the damaged pavilion in a way that preserves the traditional architectural style of the site.
Visitors can expect updates in the coming weeks as plans progress.
It comes after flames ripped through a centuries-old temple in China, almost burning the historic building to the ground in 2023.
Rescue crews rushed to the Shandan Great Buddha Temple in Gansu province’s Shandan County as a giant Buddha statue was surrounded by flames.
After the fire was extinguished, the Buddha statue appeared to remain partially intact, but several temple structures were destroyed.
According to local media reports, the statue was built in 1998 as a replica of an original, which dated back to around 425 AD and was damaged during the Cultural Revolution.
