On the move: historic Chinese building saved from bulldozer by sliding 90m on rails to new home

A 100-year-old three-storey Chinese building is on the move – to a new site more than 90 metres away – so its original location can be redeveloped, mainland media reports.

The red brick and wood building – recognised as an historic site by the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, in 2011 – has already been lifted 1.4 metres off the ground and will be slowly guided to its new resting place on top of six concrete rails, the news website Qq.com and China National Radio both reported on Thursday.

This is the first time that an historic building has been moved in the city, the reports said.

The building – constructed early in the 20th century by a local firefighting organisation, has been carefully covered in a framework of wood and scaffolding.

A steel and concrete base has also been built to ensure that no damage to the structure takes place during the move.

Preparation work is still going on and it is unclear when the building will be moved.