TAIYUAN, March 13 – A rain-proof renovation on the world’s oldest and tallest wooden pagoda has been completed, Xinhua news agency reported. Renovation work on the Yingxian Pagoda aims to better preserve the 956-year-old pagoda located in Yingxian County, which has suffered from erosion of rain and snow that has leaked through its dilapidated roof.
Renovation work began on the five-tier structure in 2011.
“We sent workers to the roof and eaves of every tier to replace rotten tiles and fix cracks. The pagoda’s inner structure will no longer soak in rainwater,” said Ma Yujiang, head of the Yingxian Pagoda cultural relic protection bureau. Plans to reinforce the pagoda’s structure and other improvement programmes to prepare it for a World Heritage status are being reviewed, said Ma.
The 67-metre Yingxian Pagoda, also known as Sakyamuni Pogada of Fogong Temple, was erected in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty. It has surved several earthquakes over the centuries.
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