New Program Planned for Refurbishing Yuanmingyuan

Chinese experts have approved of a plan to refurbish the ruins in Yuanmingyuan Park in Beijing, according to the latest weekly of Beijing Review.

The reconstruction of the park will be aimed at protecting its present conditions, rather than reverting to the "prosperity of old days".

The program focuses on proper utilization and protection in a scientific way with following measures:

-- Removing the residents, work units and amusement facilities inside the ruins which do not comply with the surrounding ambience;

-- Cleaning up and rearranging the whole site with protective measures;

-- Recovering the original outline of hills and water system and planting vegetation;

-- Rebuilding paths, bridges, pavilions, terraces, open halls and arch gates at the entrance to the park and to Changchunyuan, as well as the "Hanjin Hall" which will house historic relics of Yuanmingyuan.

Yuanmingyuan, located in west Beijing in an area traditionally home to parks and gardens, was one of the most outstanding parks in the world 140 years ago.

Emperors of several generations lived and handled the country's affairs in the park with numerous gems, cultural relics and books for the imperial family.

Unfortunately, the park, covering 350 ha, was looted and burned by the British and French imperialists in 1860, and then further destroyed by the allied army of eight imperialist countries at the end of the 19th century.

The park was formally renamed as "Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park" in early 1983.

Wu Shuqin, senior engineer of the Beijing Research and Design Institute for Urban Planning, said that the scenic area of Xiyang Building, the typical architecture of Yuanmingyuan when it existed, will not be rebuilt on a large scale.

Wu, taking charge of the new Yuanmingyuan program, added that other destroyed buildings will just be renovated for protection, not totally refurbished in every aspect.

The Yuanmingyuan site is composed of three parks: Yuanmingyuan, Changchunyuan and Wanchunyuan and the redeveloped Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park will cover an area of 4,589 ha.

It will have two sections: One is the ruins of the three old parks, where no new architecture of scenic works will be built.

The other is the newly added 100-ha areas surrounding the ruins. It will contain gardens and service trade buildings.

The height and color of the buildings to be built are required to comply with the ambience of Yuanmingyuan.



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