Shangri-la fire raises concerns over ancient town 'abuse'
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E-mail Xinhua, January 13, 2014
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| Firemen put out fire in the Dukezong Ancient Town of Shangri-la, a resort county in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 11, 2014. The fire broke out early Saturday in the Dukezong Ancient Town. The blaze was basically under control and there were no immediate reports of casualties. [CNS photo] |
Saturday's inferno that burned down an ancient town in southwest China's Shangri-la county once again stirred up concerns over commercial development of ancient towns.
The Dukezong ancient town, known for well-preserved Tibetan dwellings, lost nearly 300 houses, or two thirds of the entire town, in the worst fire in the history of the 1,300-year-old town.
Inns, cafes, souvenir shops and dwellings in the "Town of Moonlight" have become heaps of rubble, relocating some 2,600 residents who are still counting huge losses they suffered.
However, the blaze in Dukezong was not the first fire disaster that had damaged ancient towns or buildings across China in recent years.
In October, a blaze torn down an ancient building complex in central China's Hongjiang Ancient Town. Asia's No. 1 covered bridge in Chongqing was destroyed by fire in November. Another fire also raged in the old town of Lijiang, Yunnan Province, in March.
Wooden construction that facilitates fire spreading, narrow lanes that hamper firefighting efforts and lack of equipment are common reasons to be blamed for fires in old towns or buildings.
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