The Beijing municipal government is planning to rebuild three imperial gardens: the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Xiangshan (Fragrant) Mountain Park. The first two have already been inscribed as the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

Tuesday's Beijing Morning Post quoted an official of the municipal government as saying that construction preparations are underway for rebuilding five groups of architectures within the area of the Temple of Heaven, which is expected to present its original picture as it first appeared in the Ming Dynasty (1368- 1644).

The department in charge of rebuilding the Summer Palace will select the design from two options: the farming and weaving scenery area or navy school. The second option will involve regulating water route and plant within the Summer Palace.

Another restoration work is the Qinzheng Hall of the Xiangshan Mountain Park, which was burned down by the foreign invaders in 1860. The restoration work will complete next spring.

(People’s Daily December 26, 2001 )