A number of top Chinese scientists and engineers have been asked to evaluate and help protect a world-famous old wooden tower built in 1056 in Yingxian County in north China's Shanxi Province.
Seven prestigious members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering Science recently attended a meeting to evaluate research into repairing and protecting the ageing wooden tower.
Both Zhang Wenbin and Zhang Pai, director and deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, also attended the meeting along with more than 40 experts.
In its history of nearly 1,000 years, the wooden tower has been affected by numerous wars, earthquakes, natural erosion and other mishaps.
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2002)
