A centuries-old tourist site in eastern China’s Anhui province was thrown into chaos when hundreds of roof tiles came loose and crashed to the ground, causing a huge dust cloud. The Fengyang Drum Tower, built in 1375, is one of China’s largest such towers and a major attraction. The collapse occurred just a year after a renovation that targeted minor damage to the roof.
According to eyewitnesses, the tile falling lasted for about two minutes and caused no injuries. The local culture and tourism bureau confirmed that no casualties were reported and said the situation is under investigation. The tower was rebuilt in 1995 on top of the original Ming-era base, which was damaged mainly during this renovation. Fengyang county is famous for its rich history and culture, including being the hometown of Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming dynasty.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/21/travel/china-fengyang-drum-tower-tile-falling-intl-hnk