Deluge in Shanxi brings restorers to the rescue

Shao Shuai talks about the damage to the rammed earth of the wall of Pingyao on Oct 20, 2021. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Shao Shuai clearly recalls an emergency call he received on the afternoon of Oct 3, 2021, in which officials responsible for the cultural heritage protection of the ancient city of Pingyao, Shanxi province, asked for his help in an emergency.

In heavy rain, cloth on the ancient city walls had been damaged, and some sections of the city wall had collapsed.

Pingyao has received a great deal of attention as a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage site. Shao, a restorer of ancient buildings, and his colleagues arrived at the scene soon after the emergency callout.

The intensity of rainfall far exceeded everyone's expectations and the 12-meter-tall rammed earth wall of Pingyao had collapsed in 61 places, prompting concerns among history and architecture aficionados.

Restoration work began immediately, and Shao, who has worked in architectural restoration for 11 years, said the challenge was daunting.

"The ancient city wall is a nationally protected heritage site with significant cultural significance. The job needed to be done very well, but very quickly."

Shao, 40, who was raised in Pingyao, said he felt it was his responsibility to return the wall to its original state, allowing more people to enjoy its historical significance.

The restoration project involved nearly 400 artisans whose average age was over 55 years. It took one year to complete at a cost of 42 million yuan ($5.8 million).

Patience, meticulousness

Large-scale restoration like this is rare for restorers. For Shao, the job involves more minor repairs and touch-ups and it requires patience and meticulousness.

He is now working on the restoration project for a Confucian Temple in Jinzhuang village of Pingyao whose roof has leaked. Shao's routine includes arriving at what he calls "the construction site" at 8 am each day before formulating a work plan for the day and then setting out to implement it.

At the end of the work day he patrols the site, doing safety checks and writing a log summarizing the progress of work.

"Every restoration is a new challenge because each ancient building has different 'ailments' and we are doctors who diagnose and provide solutions particular to the situation."

The job of restoring cultural relics is deeply significant, he says.

"Historical heritage reflects the history and culture of a nation and is important not only to a country and its people but also to the world."

In recent years China has stepped up its efforts to protect cultural heritage, he says.

"I hope that in the future, more and more young people can join the ranks of cultural heritage preservation, introducing new technologies and ideas."