Dozens of pagodas in central China's Shaolin Temple began to tilt after their foundations were soaked in a water sill due to a water pipeline fracture three months ago.

At least 20 pagadas in the Shaolin Temple, known as the cradle of the Shaolin Gongfu (boxing), were tilted and cracked. The groundwork sank after being soaked in the flush of water.

Built as tombs for monks from the imperial Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the Qing Dynasty (1368-1644), more than 230 pagodas in the temple provided vital clues for the study of ancient architecture and sculptures in China.

Central China's Henan Province, where the temple is located, is striving to put the pagodas in the Shaolin Temple and in nearby Songshan Mountain on the United Nation's World Heritage list.

Monks used four pieces of big tree stock to help support the tilting Fawan Temple Pagoda, the oldest in the country. The biggest crack now measures 2 cm wide and one meter long.

Monks said many pagodas had already tilted and had cracks. After the water pipeline cracked, the big runoff of water flooded part of the tomb, speeding up the aging pagodas' tilting.

Worried citizens have proposed many solutions to local relic protection authorities. Sources with the local government said that it would submit repair proposals to the State Bureau of Cultural Relics for approval.

 
(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2005)