Weatherproofing the past protects legacy

Swift restorations of historical sites win global plaudits for setting example in overcoming climate change, Wang Ru reports.

After super typhoon Meranti almost washed away the historical bridges in Taishun county, Zhejiang province, in 2016, the community swiftly restored them using the original components and traditional construction techniques.

"The restoration proceeded through traditional ways, showcasing the age-old wisdom and tenacity of our cultural heritage. Also, local people managed to find the wooden components that had been washed away in the river. Thus, the bridges were not rebuilt but restored," says Yan Haiming, a researcher at the China Academy of Cultural Heritage.

Most of the components were recovered in less than two weeks, and the entire restoration project of the Xuezhai, Wenxing and Wenzhong bridges was completed about a year after the typhoon.