More than 500 unmovable cultural relics have suffered damage due to recent floods in southern China as of Thursday, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA).
Regions along the Yangtze River have seen the most severe relics damage, said Song Xinchao, deputy head of the NCHA, noting that several ancient bridges, city walls, and buildings were destroyed.
Song said the NCHA has allocated 3.5 million yuan (about 500,000 U.S. dollars) in funds to affected areas for the relics rescue work, calling on local governments and relevant departments, as well as the public, to support the work.