[Explanation] The temperature has continued to drop recently.
At the construction site of the No. 84 emergency repair project for the inner wall of the ancient city wall in Pingyao, Shanxi Province, a number of construction workers wearing safety helmets and cotton clothes stood on scaffolding to demolish the original rammed earth where the ancient city wall appeared in danger.
[Concurrent] Shao Shuai, a traditional architectural technician, Pingyao County, Shanxi Province
After the demolition, we will use raw materials, original technology, and original shape to complete this section of the city wall.
When we arrive at the top of the city, we will rebuild the female wall of the top of the city, including the laying of the top of the city.
[Explanation] The ancient city wall of Pingyao is one of the four most intact ancient city walls in China. In 1988, the ancient city wall of Pingyao was announced as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of China.
In 1997, the ancient city of Pingyao, including the ancient city wall of Pingyao, was included in the World Cultural Heritage List.
In October 2021, many parts of Shanxi were hit by heavy rainfall. Affected by heavy rainfall, the ancient city wall of Pingyao collapsed locally.
Up to now, 15 internal female walls collapsed on the ancient city wall, and 46 internal walls rammed soil fell on a large scale.
[Concurrent] Shao Shuai, a traditional architectural technician, Pingyao County, Shanxi Province
The continuous heavy rainfall from (October) 3 to 7 increased the moisture content of the rammed soil of the inner wall of our city wall, which made the wall unstable, and some collapse occurred, including the collapse of a large area of rammed soil with wall roots.
[Explanation] The ancient city wall of Pingyao is a large open-air soil cultural relic, and continuous heavy rainfall is the biggest threat to the wall’s safety.
After the danger occurred, Shanxi officially established a rescue guidance service group for the collapse of the ancient city wall of Pingyao to carry out rescue repairs on the ancient city wall.
[Concurrent] Shao Shuai, a traditional architectural technician, Pingyao County, Shanxi Province
So far, the progress of our work is that the five-stage rescue project has been started, and there are other stages of the preparation and reporting process. Our planned progress is to repair the five-stage rescue work in April next year. The project is all completed.
[Explanation] At present, in order to do a good job in repairing the ancient city wall, the Ancient City Wall Management Office of Pingyao County pays close attention to changes in the danger situation, increases the frequency of round-the-clock inspections of the ancient city wall, promptly discovers and quickly handles the danger of the city wall, and ensures the safety of the ancient city wall and the safety of tourists. Personal safety of surrounding residents.
[Concurrent] Zhang Zhijin, Director of the City Wall Management Office of Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi Province
The employees basically check the dangers on each line once every two hours. In addition, especially during the rain, our employees will come out to clean the water on the top of the sea, as well as the cracks in the roots of the female walls above the dangerous points, or other internal problems. The wall was rammed with earth, dropped off, and inspected and inspected.
We basically cover the rain-proof cloth in May, and basically remove the rain-proof cloth in early and mid-November, mainly to protect the rammed earth of the city wall from sliding down when it rains.
Reporting from Zhang Licheng, Hu Jian, Wang Ruiqin, Shanxi Jinzhong
Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]