Ancient temple bursts into flames after tourist’s act

An ancient temple has been set alight in front of shocked onlookers after a tourist wrongly used incense and candles.

Footage has captured the moment a 1500-year-old temple burst into flames after a visitor reportedly misused candles and incense last week.

Onlookers filmed the Wenchang Pavilion on Fenghuang Mountain in China as it became engulfed in flames.

Videos from the fire showing thick smoke and pieces of the roof crumbling to the floor.

Flames reportedly started spreading throughout the three-storey building just before 11.30am.

Miraculously, authorities confirmed there were no casualties with firefighters quickly containing the blaze.

Local authorities said “improper incense or candle use” were a likely trigger for the blaze.

A sacred temple was filmed going up in flames. Picture: The Sun

Shocked onlookers watched on as the 1500-year-old building lit up. Picture: The Sun

Officials said the pavilion did not house any cultural relics.

While Yongqing Temple dates back over 1500 years, its current buildings are modern reconstructions.

The original temple was found during the Liang Dynasty (approximately 536AD), but was demolished in 1958.

Reconstruction of the site began in 1992, while the Wenchang Pavilion was not rebuilt until 2009.

This is not the first time that the behaviour of tourists has sparked concern in China.

Earlier this year, a tourist was filmed climbing over a fence and jumping into a section of the world-famous display of China’s Terracotta Army.

The 30-year-old was visiting the museum housing the Terracotta Army in the city of Xi’an on Friday when he “climbed over the guardrail and the protective net and jumped”, public security officials said at the time.

Earlier this year, a tourist jumped into an ancient terracotta warrior exhibit. Picture: Supplied

The man ‘pushed and pulled’ the ancient clay warriors. Picture: Supplied

The man allegedly “pushed and pulled” the clay warriors and two were “damaged to varying degrees”, they said.

The pit he jumped into is up to 5.4 metres deep, according to the museum’s website.

Australian government website TripAdvisor warns travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” when visiting the country.

In the 2024–25 fiscal year, approximately 653,000 Australian residents travelled to mainland China, making it the fifth most popular overseas destination for Australians.

Tourists are reminded that China exercises the death penalty for serious crimes.

“If you’re sentenced to death, it’s unlikely that Chinese authorities will grant you leniency,” TripAdvisor wrote.