China National Museum of Fine Arts was closed April 15 for one-year reconstruction as the first major overhaul to be ever carried out on the structure built in 1962.

Back in the 1990s, general reconstruction had once been undertaken by China National Museum of Fine Arts. But obsolete equipment had since excluded some international exhibitions to be held in the Museum.

According to sources, China National Museum of Fine Arts will retain its current outward appearance and overall layout after the overhaul. However, tens of exhibition halls will be reconstructed thoroughly to keep up with those of world most advanced on top of expanding construction on the Museum's No.1 storage hall. A person in charge from the Architecture School of Tsinghua University undertaking the project said that some issues are waiting for approval and a detailed scheme is going to be unveiled after the reconstruction starts.

(People's Daily April 15, 2002)