Hoping to save the world's oldest and tallest wooden pagoda, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage is calling for ideas from both domestic and foreign experts.

The administration has three possible repair plans to prevent the collapse of the 945-year-old, 67-meter high pagoda in Yingxian County, north China's Shanxi Province, but authorities are seeking more suggestions or help before deciding on a plan of action.

"We welcome new scientific advice on preservation of this state-level historical relic," said Jin Hongkui, vice-director of the administration's cultural relics protection department.

Jin said the administration has not received much help from experts abroad, so he is trying to drum up concern for the fate of the nine-story structure at home.

The administration and Shanxi officials have received more than 60 calls with suggestions since last week, when a public awareness campaign began.

Yet no plan emerged better than the existing ones, Jin said.

The repair plan of choice will be selected by the end of the year and is expected to be funded by the State Council, said Luo Zhewen, head of the administration's expert team on ancient architecture.

Earthquakes, winds, precipitation and its own 5,700-ton weight have taxed the building since its construction in 1056. Column heads and ridge beams are twisted and broken, said Chai Zejun, a Shanxi relics engineer and vice-director of a special administrative committee to fix the pagoda.

"We have invited more than 50 famous experts on ancient architecture to the site and discussed how to repair it while preserving its original appearance," Chai said.

Chai is partial to the plan that would repair the lower floors first, since that's where most of the damage has occurred.

Yet officials don't have specific plans, so more scientific ideas are being sought, Chai said.

The administration has invested more than 8 million yuan (US$965,000) in researching the problem, Jin said.

Experts on the remedy committee have asked that the pagoda be closed to tourists. Nearly 9,500 tourists visited the pagoda over the week-long Labor Day holiday in May.

(China Daily 06/28/2001)