Police investigate pull-up stunt on ancient cliffside temple

Police are investigating a man who was filmed doing pull-ups on the Xuankong Temple, a 1,500-year-old complex built into a cliff in Datong, Shanxi province, authorities said on Tuesday.

The man deliberately hung from and pulled on the temple's structural supports, according to a statement from the scenic area. The temple combines elements of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and is a nationally protected cultural heritage site.

A professional inspection found no visible physical damage to the temple, the statement said. But the actions may have disturbed the balance of forces in its wooden framework, posing a serious safety risk to the structure, which clings to a cliff face.

The incident was filmed and circulated online, potentially encouraging similar behavior, the statement said. Police will handle the case in accordance with the law.