A church in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is being moved back to its original site six years after it was relocated to make way for a tunnel project.
The city's only German church, built in 1882, stands on Xinyi Road, Fangcun Avenue. In 2008, it was moved 26 meters south of its original site as it stood in the way of the Zhoutouju tunnel project. The construction of the tunnel is about to be completed.
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The relocation operation started on Sunday. A grid of steel beams has been installed beneath the church to maintain its structural stability as it is pushed along on rails by nine jacks.
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The jacks generate 450 metric tons of thrust and can move the building 15 centimeters with every push.
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The historic church has already been moved 8 meters, and is scheduled to reach its final position on Wednesday.
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The 2008 relocation cost 3 million yuan ($490,000). The equipment employed then is being used again, and this will reduce the cost by half.
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Gu Weiping, general manager of Luban Construction Group, the company carrying out the operation, said moving the entire structure at once is the most effective method.
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"It would have been difficult, costly and risky if we had carried out the tunnel construction under the church without moving it away," Gu said.
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The church is surrounded by steel scaffolding, and the walls are being protected by wooden planks.
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Each time after the church is moved, technicians check data and examine the structure to ensure it has not been damaged.
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