The May 12 Sichuan Earthquake inflicted great damage upon urban buildings in the area and World Cultural Heritage sites such as Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.

Following the tragedy our WHITR-AP leaders and accompanying staff hastened to the area and to participate in the rebuilding process. On May 18 WHITR-AP director Prof. Wu Zhiqiang went especially to Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and evaluated the damages sustained at the heritage sites. Regarding the reconstruction of both the urban buildings and the heritage sites, Executive Director Prof. Zhou Jian leaded a group of experts from both the Institute and Tongji Univeristy to the site on May 23. He also met with the local municipal government regarding this situation. Starting June 10 the Sichuan municipal government put Prof. Zhou Jian and his group in charge of the entire reconstruction process. On June 14, Prof. Wu and Prof. Zhou returned to the scene with a team from the Shanghai Municipal Government to confirm the plans and begin the reconstruction.

As according to the evaluation of damages sustained, rebuilding plans include restoring and reconstructing 26 historical buildings and later constructed replicas in Dujiangyan, as well as basic facilities at the site. In the process several new facilities are also being built. Landslide controls, a visitor center, Digital Management Center, and a museum are the new additions to the site. The 26 historical buildings that need to be repaired include Er Wang Temple, Fulong Daoist Temple, Yulei Pass, Jianfu Palace, Shangqing Palace, Tianshi Cave etc.

The photos below are from the damaged sites.