A cultural relic under national protection has been restored in less than nine hours after it was accidentally broken in two by a boat, Qianjiang Evening News reported on July 31.

The stone pagoda, built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) as a marker on West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, broke and its top half fell into the water after a tourist boat smashed into it on the evening of July 29.

The boat was deviating from the normal route when the accident happened, and the driver, surnamed Meng, was inexperienced, according to the report.

The management committee of West Lake and local cultural heritage authorities salvaged the stone out of water and fixed it after working overnight, the report said.

The stone pagoda is one of three stone pagodas erected in West Lake as markers and they are one of the most famous scenes in the lake, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top tourist destinations in China.