A piece of China’s storied past took a sudden fall this week as a historic tower in Fengyang County collapsed, prompting an official investigation.
Authorities confirmed that the collapse occurred just a year after the tower underwent renovations due to earlier roof damage. While initial reports assured the public that there were no casualties, officials are still looking into the root causes behind the failure.
The structure itself was a blend of ancient and modern—its foundation dated back to the Ming dynasty, while the upper part of the tower had been reconstructed in 1995. Officials clarified that the majority of the damage was limited to this newer upper section.
Fengyang is no ordinary town. It holds deep cultural and historical significance as the birthplace of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor, and founder of the Ming dynasty. Under his leadership, China entered a golden age defined by expanding international trade, cultural flourishing, and economic reform. One notable hallmark of this era was the bold move to replace traditional silver and gold currency with paper money, a pioneering step in monetary history.
