A part of the ancient Feng Yang Drum Tower in China collapsed on Monday, prompting tourists to seek safety. The 650-year-old structure in Anhui lost numerous roof tiles, creating a cloud of dust that spread around popular tourist spots.
Footage of the incident quickly circulated on social media, showing the chaos that ensued as visitors scrambled for cover during nearby rain.
New: The roof of a 650-year-old drum tower in Anhui, China is collapsing.
The incident took place at Feng Shui Drum Tower in eastern China. Authorities then began an investigation.
This structure was first constructed in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty.
Part of the building… pic.twitter.com/5py0yjogak
– Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 20, 2025
One witness recounted to Yangcheng’s evening news that the tumbling tiles fell for a minute or two. Another observer mentioned to the Beijing news that thankfully, there was no one in the square at the time, leading to no injuries. They expressed concern that had the incident occurred later, many children playing nearby after dinner could have been hurt.
This historical site was first established in 1375 but suffered damage during the Qing Dynasty in 1853. It was rebuilt in 1995, and a restoration project commenced in 2023, wrapping up in March 2024.
The roof that partially collapsed was completed just a year ago, raising eyebrows on social media regarding the quality of the recent construction.
A modern restoration structure compared to one built 650 years ago.
– Old School Edith (@old_schooleddie) May 20, 2025
One user remarked, “The techniques and design of ancient Chinese buildings lasted over 600 years, yet modern renovations seem to crumble in under two.”
Old Chinese architectural technology and construction have been in the past 600 years. Modern China renovations will collapse within two years.
– neounrealist (@neounrealist) May 20, 2025
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and authorities are looking into the incident.
The Fengyang Drum Tower is a significant tourist destination, located about 320 kilometers from Beijing. Fengyang County is also notable for being the birthplace of Zhu Yuanzhang, who founded the Ming Dynasty.
