Recreating the Glory of the Old Summer Palace: Zhejiang’s Replica Opens

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 

The Old Summer Palace in Beijing, which was burned down by the Eight-Nation Alliance 155 years ago, has been recreated and opened to the public on May 10 in Hengdian, Zhejiang. Covering a total area of over 6,200 acres, the project was invested with 30 billion yuan (approximately NT$1.5 trillion) by Chinese companies. The "New Yuanmingyuan," a one-to-one scale reconstruction of 95% of the original architecture of the Beijing Old Summer Palace, attracted a large influx of visitors on its opening day, offering a glimpse into the splendor of the former imperial garden.

The Old Summer Palace was once a famous imperial garden in China, spanning over 5,200 hectares. Construction began in 1709 and took over 150 years to complete before it was destroyed by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. An estimated 1.5 million cultural relics were looted and scattered across the world. To coincide with the opening of the New Yuanmingyuan, three precious artifacts from the original site have been returned, including a Qing Dynasty Qianlong bronze gilt-inlaid jeweled hero incense burner, a cloisonné eight treasures moon flask, and a bronze gilt dragon-patterned square gu with flanges.