Moving a building without tearing it down? No big deal for the Chinese government. 

A three-storey heritage building in Wuhan, Hubei province, will be relocated 90 meters from its original position. The building and the area where it will pass by have been scaffolded. 

Like Us on Facebook

The building, which has a rich history spanning more than 100 years, is made up of wood and bricks. The structure was a fire station in Wuhan's downtown commercial area from 1912 to 1949 during the Republic of China. 

It was then given to the local public security bureau for preservation and became a protected cultural relic in 2011. 

"The most significant part of the project is the reinforcement of the building, to make sure it does not fall apart," said Li Liangliang, head of the construction team. 

Six slideways will help the building move horizontally. Its foundation is already hollowed, so it cannot be lifted from the ground. 

Structural lifting has been common in China for 20 years. This saves building owners the costs of tearing it down and rebuilding it in their desired location. This method is mostly done when relocating important or historical buildings. 

In 2003, the immaculately huge Shanghai Concert Hall, then 73 years old, was relocated from its original busy area to its current location. Over the course of 10 days, the historical structure was lifted 10 centimeters above the ground.  

TagsChinese heritage, moving buildings in China, Shanghai Concert Hall, Wuhan