A steel cable is seen fixed on a leaning ancient pagoda in Tongchuan, Northwest China's Shaanxi province on October 12, 2015. (Photo/hsw.cn)
When a tourist made a special trip from East China to Tongchuan, Northwest China's Shaanxi province to get a close up look at a renowned ancient pagoda, he was shocked to find the cultural relic leaning and hooked to a cable wire, Huashang Daily reported.
Untended grass, half the height of an adult, was scattered around the site. The tourist said he also saw a chicken farm right beside the leaning tower.
The history of the Yanchangsi pagoda dates back more than 1,000 years to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and in 2013 it was listed as one of the national key cultural relics protection units.
The pagoda started to lean in 2005 and the cable wire might have been attached when the pagoda underwent renovation then, according to the Tongchuan Relics and Tourism Bureau.
Two years ago, after the tower was discovered to be leaning over 11 degrees, local authorities drew up renovation plans, and are still waiting for funds from the government.
The chicken farm will be relocated as soon as possible, and the treatment of the surrounding environment is under way, local authorities said.
