A sacred temple in Jiangsu, China was severely damaged after a visitor made a critical error during their visit.
The unfortunate event occurred at Wenchang Pavilion, located on Fenghuang Mountain in Zhangjiagang, when the three-story structure was consumed by flames around 11am local time on Wednesday.
Fortunately, officials were able to report that there were no injuries, and the fire was controlled enough to prevent it from spreading to the densely wooded areas nearby.
However, the devastation left behind illustrates the magnitude of the disaster, with portions of the roof collapsing as seen in videos shared on social media.
An investigation into the fire’s origin is currently underway, but initial results suggest that it was likely caused by a visitor’s improper handling of candles and incense at the historic location.
Authorities also clarified that the pavilion, constructed in October 2009, did not contain any cultural relics, so no significant historical items were lost.
The pavilion, initiated in 2008 and completed in 2009, was built with a reinforced concrete frame and is one of several modern structures at the site.
Upon completion, the structure was managed by neighboring Yongqing Temple, with the original Yongning Temple’s history extending back over 1500 years.
The original temple was established in 536 during the Southern Liang dynasty on Fenghuang Mountain.
It is noted for being one of the ‘four hundred eighty splendid temples’ of the Southern Dynasties, as depicted in a poem by the renowned Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu.
Wenchang Pavilion specifically was a section of the temple that served as the retreat for Shi Nai’an at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, where he authored Water Margin, a novel regarded as one of the four great works of Chinese literature.
The current temple was rebuilt in the 1990s.
As the investigation progresses, local authorities have pledged to take further steps based on its outcomes, while also enhancing existing safety measures to prevent another severe fire.
This latest fire incident follows another fire two years ago, which nearly destroyed a centuries-old temple in China.
Shandan Great Buddha Temple in Gansu province’s Shandan County was severely damaged by a fire in 2023, with a giant Buddha statue being engulfed by flames.
Although the fire was eventually extinguished and the statue appeared to remain partially intact, the surrounding structures were destroyed.