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Hard times for Drum Tower

Part of Beijing's famous Drum Tower, a historical site that serves as a reference point for ancient times, is being destroyed bit by bit.

Less than 30 complete tiles remain on the top of the 70-metre-long wall on the west side of the tower, meaning 90 percent of the tiles have been removed.

A source from the Drum Tower Cultural Heritage Administration told China Daily, "A bus stop is located near the wall, so there is a big flow of people and traffic every day, so it becomes an easy target for vandals."

Experts believe people's interest in ancient-looking items may be stirred by the booming cultural relics market. "Both prices and profits of cultural relics have grown exponentially in recent years," said Yao Yujiang, an official with the Beijing Municipal Administration for Cultural Heritage.

Realizing the value of cultural heritage pieces, some people will attempt to better protect them, while others will want to profit from them. During the 2000-2002 period, 330 million yuan (US$40 million) was budgeted for heritage protection purposes.

The Drum Tower was initially built in 1272 during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and underwent repairs on three occasions during the Yuan and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.