The famous ruin Dashuifa, a group of fountains in the Old Summer Palace, also called Yuanmingyuan, or Garden of Perfect Brightness, once an imperial palace in the west of Beijing, has recently been fenced off as a result of security concerns, the Beijing News reported on January 7. The protection is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week.

Iron fences more than one meter high have been installed around the carved stone relics, torched down in 1860 by foreign intruders. The ruin was preserved as memorial spot for the days of humiliation that the country experienced during this period.

The remains of the fountains were blocked off with security barriers in the middle of last October as signs of damage caused by careless visitors became apparent. To protect the precious stones as well as to guarantee the safety of visitors, the garden operators have replaced the security barriers with iron fences, the newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, the garden operators have mapped out a plan to repair the historic spot where there will be a paved road for visitors. The plan is still waiting for approval from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. The fences will be removed once the spot is refurbished.

(China.org.cn by Wu Jin, January 8, 2008)