History lover uses camera to save abandoned historical sites

The temple had just a few wooden pillars standing.

And frescoes dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) were weathered because of the poor condition of the roof.

Locals had no idea when the temple was built and abandoned. And they had no money to repair it.

But after Tang posted the pictures of the temple, it drew attention of hundreds of web users and other media, including the People's Daily, which published his pictures and called for protection of nearby relic sites.

Two months later, the local cultural relics bureau announced that restoration was underway.

In November 2015, a local told Tang the temple was restored and was hosting opera performances.

"Rural historical sites have regained respect and popularity," says Tang. "Historical sites are important because they are the platforms to display and protect intangible heritage, such as operas, temple fairs and ancient crafts. When historical buildings are saved, the culture revives."