Conversion of historic sites into restaurants in Gansu stirs public outrage

Conversion of historic sites into restaurants in Gansu stirs public outrage Photo: Screenshot from CCTV

Local authorities in Tianshui, Northwest China's Gansu Province, have taken strict actions to investigate acts of negligence and dereliction of duty after state broadcaster CCTV exposed that many historic buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911) in Tianshui have been commercialized, with one transformed into a Japanese-style restaurant, which has sparked online outrage.

The response includes checking and fixing safety hazards citywide, teaching heritage-related legal knowledge for businesses and disciplinary agencies supervising duty implementation.

The measures came after a Saturday CCTV report unveiled that a historic building site had been transformed into a Japanese restaurant.

According to the CCTV report, the central courtyard and elevated platforms of one of the ancient buildings, once adorned with Chinese decorations, are now covered with wooden boards. Two Japanese-style structures have also been added to the western wing of the historic cultural site.

Huang Guoxiang, an expert specializing in the restoration of historic dwellings and former special consultant to Tianshui, told CCTV that the addition of modifications that alter the traditional architecture of ancient courtyards is not permitted. Thanks to the changes, rainwater will splash onto the pillars on rainy days, accelerating their decay, he noted, adding that this damage is "irreversible.

The related hashtag "Gansu cultural relic turned into Japanese restaurant" began trending on China's Twitter-like popular Sina Weibo, garnering over 48 million by Sunday. Many internet users expressed their anger and concern. 

"We should restore the ancient architecture in our own authentic style from that era. We don't need to blindly follow trends, because our original style was already good enough," one Sina Weibo user commented. 

The controversy also raises questions about the regulatory approval process for such modifications. Some netizens voiced their dismay at the apparent lack of oversight, suggesting that flagrant alterations like these should not have gone unnoticed.