Due to urban construction, the steel-made chimney, as well as the 4,000-square-meter old plant, was demolished last November to make way for a large public greenland. The plant sold off the chimney parts. The six blocks, which totally weigh some 20 tons and originally formed the chimney's base, were bought by a local waste recycling station.

"This chimney best reveals the history of the city's power industry," said Fu Weiqun, chief of the museum's collection unit, yesterday.

The museum will buy six blocks priced at about 30,000 yuan (US$3,614.5) from the station.

"We will try to reassemble the chimney's 8-meter diameter foundation and showcase it in the future," he added.

Built in 1940, the chimney, which weighed more than 775 tons, was constructed with materials imported from Britain and could bear a wind force of 186.7 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, officials from the museum urged the public to call the museum at 6252-4625 if any relic structures are to dismantled due to urban construction projects.

(eastday.com June 18, 2003)