Heavy rainfall in Fujian destroys first Hakka ancestral hall

(ECNS) -- The Li Clan Ancestral Hall, known as the "First Ancestral Hall of Hakka," in East China's Fujian Province, collapsed on Sunday after six hours of water saturation caused by heavy rain, with some artifacts buried under the debris. 

The collapse affected the guest rooms on the east and west sides of the hall.

The damaged Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Shanghang County, Fujian Province. (Photo courtesy of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Shanghang County, Fujian Province)

The preliminary investigation shows that the rammed earth wall became severely soaked, causing the soil to soften and lose its support.

Located in Shanghang County, Longyan City of Fujian, the ancestral hall is a valuable heritage site under State protection in China. 

Yao Hongfeng, professor of historical building conservation engineering at Fujian University of Technology, said that the ancestral hall can be restored due to sufficient preservation of information, according to cnr.cn. 

A staff member of the Li Clan Ancestral Hall said “the local government has cordoned off the area around the ancestral hall to prevent pedestrians from approaching. 

The hall was built in 1836 by descendants of the Li clan to commemorate Li Huode, who first settled in Fujian. It is one of the most influential ancestral halls in Fujian, and serves as a bridge of fellowship between the descendants of the clan in China and overseas.

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall before damage in Shanghang County, Fujian Province. (Photo courtesy of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Shanghang County, Fujian Province)