Fire Damages Historic Replica at Jiangsu's Yongqing Temple

A fire broke out in a replica ancient structure at Yongqing Temple in Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Tuesday, causing significant damage before it was put out. No injuries were reported.

The affected structure, known as Wenchang Pavilion, was a contemporary reconstruction, Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday. Scene footage showed that the roof eaves and inscribed plaques were largely destroyed, exposing the wooden framework beneath.

The temple has been temporarily closed and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Yongqing Temple, nestled at the western foot of Fenghuang Mountain, boasts a history of more than 1,500 years. Initially built during the Eastern Wu dynasty, it was expanded in 536 AD during the Southern Dynasties, cementing its status as one of the celebrated "480 Temples of the Southern Dynasties" and a key religious site in the Jiangnan region (south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River).

According to the temple's official social media account, the original structure was destroyed in the late 1950s, leaving only ruins. Reconstruction efforts based on its historical design began in the 1990s.