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SHIJIAZHUANG, July 22 (Xinhua) -- A section of an ancient city wall in north China's Hebei Province collapsed Friday due to continuous rain, local government said.
The south gate of the Yongpingfu city wall, which dated back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), collapsed at about 3 a.m. in Lulong County, Qinhuangdao City.
The gate was 8 meters high, 4.5 meters wide and 15 meters long.
Xiao Yuanping with the county's cultural relics bureau said the collapse was due to last year's earthquakes and the recent rainstorm.
"A big crack appeared in the wall above the south gate after two earthquakes in 2015," Xiao said. "The recent heavy rain weakened its interior structure and led to the collapse."
The site has been cordoned off. The bureau will file a funding application for restoration.
The city wall was approved as a national key historical and cultural site in 2013.
