Shenzhen, June 25, 2024 – The south gate wall of Dapeng Fortress, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) walled village in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province, recently collapsed due to continuous heavy rain, according to an announcement by the general office of the site in the city’s Dapeng New District.

The collapse, which occurred on Saturday, was “small scale,” and no casualties were reported. Safety barriers have been installed around the affected area, and experts in cultural relics and emergency response have been organized to assess the site further.

Historian Fang Gang highlighted the historical significance of Dapeng Fortress, also known as Dapeng Suocheng. Once a coastal defense structure during the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, it witnessed significant historical events such as the first Opium War (1840-42). The recently collapsed section, which extends to the south gate, had been rebuilt in 1984.

In 2001, Dapeng Fortress was designated a national-level key cultural relic site, and two years later, it became a pilot village showcasing China’s cultural history.

Zheng Huaxin, an expert in ancient architecture, stressed the importance of thorough examinations to determine if the collapse poses a threat to the stability of the entire structure. He recommended a conservative recovery plan to preserve the old architecture. Extreme weather and severe natural conditions, he noted, always pose a threat to ancient sites.

The Dapeng Fortress is currently closed for repairs, and the incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by historic structures due to adverse weather conditions. In 2021, heavy rain in North China’s Shanxi Province damaged 1,763 ancient ruins, including the notable Pingyao Ancient City.