Massive collapse at ‘First Ancestral Hall of Hakka’ buries artifacts

Photo: The Paper

A significant portion of the Li Clan Ancestral Hall, known as the "First Ancestral Hall of Hakka," in East China's Fujian Province, collapsed after six hours of water saturation due to heavy rain in the early hours on Sunday, with some artifacts buried under the debris, The Paper reported on Tuesday.

The Hakka are a subgroup of Han Chinese, primarily based in the southern part of China, including Fujian.

According to reports, the collapse occurred in the guest rooms on both sides of the ancestral hall. Preliminary assessments indicate that the collapse was caused by severe water saturation of the earth walls, leading to soil softening and loss of structural integrity. The water immersion level reached up to 1.5 meters, with an immersion time lasting as long as six hours.

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall is located in Shanghang County, Fujian. Constructed in 1836 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the hall was built to honor Li Huode, the clan's progenitor who migrated to Fujian. The ancestral hall is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in Fujian and holds significant cultural influence among Hakka communities globally, according to reports.

"No one was injured, but many valuable artifacts remain buried," said a hall staff member on Tuesday, adding that the rain had stopped, and "work on draining the water (in the hall) is underway."

According to the staff member, the hall underwent renovations last year, funded by local authorities. However, the unexpected torrential rains led to the collapse.

"The rain was very heavy and lasted for a long time," the staff member explained. "It rained continuously all day on Saturday, and at around 4 am on Sunday, some noticed that the ancestral hall had collapsed. Currently, the three central halls are still standing, but the guest rooms on both sides are severely damaged."

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall management committee said there was unprecedented rainfall in the town from 6 am on Sunday to 6 am on Monday, setting a 24-hour precipitation record. Starting from 2:40 am on Sunday, the east and west wing buildings began collapsing incrementally, affecting about 1,000 square meters of the structure.

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall, covering over 5,600 square meters, features three main halls, 26 guest rooms, and 104 residential rooms. In March 2013, the hall was designated a national key cultural relic protection unit, and in January 2015, it was upgraded to a national 3A tourist attraction.

Aerial images provided by local residents on Monday show the main hall still submerged, with the central and rear semicircular structures largely intact, while both guest rooms have collapsed.

Local officials have arrived at the scene to oversee the disaster recovery efforts. Restoration plans are being developed with a focus on preserving the hall's historical authenticity, according to The Paper.

Global Times