The main pavilion of Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple will be shifted 30 meters northward on September 2, 2017. Mahavira Hall, built in 1918, will be moved along with three huge Buddhist statues and other cultural heritages inside. Shanghai Construction No. 4 Group added never before has such an operation been attempted with a temple in China. The moving project along with other renovations are aimed at creating more room for worshippers and to address fire and other safety concerns at the popular historic temple in Anyuan Road. The project is expected to be completed in two weeks when some 500 square meters of space will be released in the main square, doubling its current size, for worshipers and visitors to pray, said Shen Junqi, the project manager. Other pavilions and halls will remain open during the project. (Photo/Agencies)
A 135-year-old temple in Shanghai will be relocated, with the temple's main hall to be moved 30 meters away in two weeks.
Work to relocate the famed Yufo Temple, also known as the Jade Buddha Temple, began on Saturday. According to the project, the main hall will be moved 30.66 meters to the north and will be raised 1.05 meters than its previous position, the China News Service reported. The Buddha statues and other cultural relics in the hall will simultaneously be moved.
This is the first time China is implementing such a project, which will be completed in two weeks, the report said.
Relocating the temple aims to provide greater security and better protect historical architecture. Engineers first cut the hall from its original foundation and then lifted it on a platform with tracks. During the next few days, the hall be place on a new foundation. The most difficult part of the project is protecting the Buddha statues inside. Because the foundation of ancient architecture are usually loose, any movement could destroy the foundation.
Built in 1882, the temple is one of Shanghai's most popular tourist attractions with more than two million people visiting it annually. More than 100,000 people visit it daily on major holidays.
