Controversies escalated as the Yuanmingyuan project rebuilding was launched. The project, advocated by Xu Wenrong, is to include investment of 200,000,000 RMB to rebuild Yuanmingyuan in Hengdian, Zhejiang Province, and is expected to finish in 5 years and open to the public in 2013.
Covering an area of 6165 acre, the “New Yuanmingyuan” consists of three gardens, Yuanmingyuan, Changchunyuan, and Wanchunyuan. The project will be reconstructed in accordance with the historic Yuanmingyuan that was burned down by Anglo-French Forces 146 years ago. As reported, the land area is even larger than the Imperial Palace, and the water area is identical with the Summer Palace.
The project is being executed by an economic league from Hengdian. It will use 600,000,000 RMB for architectural design and decoration, and another 14000,000,000 of investment will be used for collection and replication of cultural relics in the New Yuanmingyuan.
There are mainly two viewpoints on the rebuilding. In the objectors’ opinions, Yuanmingyuan is a reminder of the shameful memory of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); it should be maintained as ruins. On the other side, some people think that rebuilding it would be a sign of China’s prosperity, and the new Yuanmingyuan could contrast with the old one. It is also important for adolescents who are gradually forgetting this shameful history.
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