Zhejiang counties eye Jackie Chan's architecture collection

Two counties in Zhejiang province want to take over the ancient buildings that martial arts movie star Jackie Chan wants to donate.

Longyou and Fotang counties made an official approach to Chan this week.

Days after Chan said he had donated four ancient Anhui sandalwood houses to a university in Singapore, Anhui province said it will create "identity numbers" for local ancient buildings to ban the removal of such structures from the province.

The buildings were bought by Chan 20 years ago for his parents to live in.

Lu Min, deputy governor of Longyou county, said it would set aside a spacious area for the buildings, and the authorities are willing to pay maintenance and construction fees.

Longyou is one of the two nationally authorized locations to house architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. More than 45 houses from these periods have been moved there and received regular maintenance.

Fotang is the other location, and 35 ancient houses have been moved there.

On April 4, Chan posted on his micro blog that he wanted to donate 10 pieces of ancient Chinese architecture, with four already donated to Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Related:

Jackie Chan's house-moving angers public

Netizens riled by decision to donate old homes to Singaporean university. "No one can rob historic relics from other countries and display them in the museums of their homelands." More...