Beijing's heritage protection authorities have blacklisted eighteen historical sites in the city as unsafe.
These sites, such as the Beijing Tai Miao Palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), have fallen into disrepair and are unsafe, said a press release on the website of the State Administration of Work Safety. At some sites there is a risk of fire and collapse, it added.
The dangers at other sites are often hidden. Sixty to seventy percent of the city's historical sites have safety problems, according to a Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage inspector.
Some of the site's property right owners squeezed repair funds while spending lavishly on office buildings, said Kong Fanzhi, director of the municipal administration.
Kong said his administration will focus on the eighteen listed sites this year and work with judicial departments to solve the issue.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2007)
