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Old Beijing temple to reopen
By Wang Qingchu |
October 12, 2010, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
THE only surviving historical structure of Beijing's Old Summer Palace will open to the public next year after eight years of renovation.
Zhengjue Temple, located to the west of Qichun Garden, is the only intact building remaining in the Old Summer Palace, the imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), after it was burned down by Anglo-French Forces in 1860 and the Eight-Power Allied Forces in 1900, Shanghai Morning Post reported Tuesday.
Occupying a total area of 14,000 square metres, the temple was built in 1773, the 38th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign. It has finished being refurbished and will open to the public next year to mark the 150th anniversary of the destruction of the Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan.
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage and Beijing authorities decided to rebuild the temple in July 2000, as it is a rare example of historic buildings in Yuanmingyuan. The whole project cost more than 60 million yuan (US$9 million).
Experts sent by Yuanmingyuan authorities started a global hunt in October 2009 for 1.5 million relics looted from the Old Summer Palace during the Second Opium War in 1860.
An estimated 1.5 million artifacts are believed to have been looted from the site by British and French troops and scattered around the world, said Chen Mingjie, director of the palace?s management office.
Teams of experts have visited museums, libraries, and private collections in countries including the United States, Britain, France and Japan and have found previously unknown lost relics belonging to Yuanmingyuan in the US.
The Old Summer Palace, built in the 18th century, was known for its extensive gardens, exquisite buildings and works of art.
Zhengjue Temple, located to the west of Qichun Garden, is the only intact building remaining in the Old Summer Palace, the imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), after it was burned down by Anglo-French Forces in 1860 and the Eight-Power Allied Forces in 1900, Shanghai Morning Post reported Tuesday.
Occupying a total area of 14,000 square metres, the temple was built in 1773, the 38th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign. It has finished being refurbished and will open to the public next year to mark the 150th anniversary of the destruction of the Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan.
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage and Beijing authorities decided to rebuild the temple in July 2000, as it is a rare example of historic buildings in Yuanmingyuan. The whole project cost more than 60 million yuan (US$9 million).
Experts sent by Yuanmingyuan authorities started a global hunt in October 2009 for 1.5 million relics looted from the Old Summer Palace during the Second Opium War in 1860.
An estimated 1.5 million artifacts are believed to have been looted from the site by British and French troops and scattered around the world, said Chen Mingjie, director of the palace?s management office.
Teams of experts have visited museums, libraries, and private collections in countries including the United States, Britain, France and Japan and have found previously unknown lost relics belonging to Yuanmingyuan in the US.
The Old Summer Palace, built in the 18th century, was known for its extensive gardens, exquisite buildings and works of art.
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