The State Administration of Cultural Heritage issued an urgent
circular on Friday ordering fire safety checks for ancient
monuments across the country.
The safety of these structures has suddenly drawn attention,
following the near-total fire destruction of the 600-year-old
Namdaemun (South Gate) in Seoul. Most ancient monuments in China
are built mainly with bricks and wood and are vulnerable to fire,
especially in areas with dry climates such as northern China.
According to the circular, the administration has received
reports of seven fire cases since last year. Four of them involved
key state relics under protection.
Some state-level ancient structures such as the Forbidden City,
the Zhengyang Gate on Tian'anmen Square and Desheng Gate in north
Beijing are under 24-hour surveillance. In some key structures,
interior cameras are used to monitor crimes and other potentially
harmful circumstances.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)