Historic Shanghai temple's slow odyssey complete

People prepare bricks that will be used in the new foundation of the Grand Hall of the Jade Buddha Temple. The blue cylinder is one of the hydraulic jacks used to lift the structure.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Lan said because the temple was built much earlier and there were no schematics, its move was a much more difficult job than the relocation of the music hall.

It was later found, through radar technology, that the foundation of the Grand Hall was made from rocks glued together with a mixture of lime and glutinous rice, rather than cement or steel.

Ten rails were created along which the hall was moved to its new site at a speed of 3 centimeters per minute. Forty-six hydraulic jacks were placed under the foundation to lift the entire structure off the ground.

Around 20,000 bricks will be used to fill the gap below the structure, as it is now 1 meter higher than before. Members of the public can pay 200 yuan ($30) to have their name inscribed on one of the bricks before the end of September, when they will be inserted.

After the new foundation is complete, a bell and drum tower, as well as a hall dedicated to Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy, will be added to the Grand Hall to complete the temple's function and architectural style, a typical Buddhist temple in East China.

The whole renovation is expected to be finished in the first part of next year.