A sculptor from Shanghai used ten years to finish a mini Yuanmingyuan Park, giving people a full view of the ancient royal garden left in ruins by the British and French invaders during the Second Opium War in 1860.

The sculpture on display at the Shanghai International Gymnastic Center gives people a full view of ancient royal garden Yuanmingyuan Park.

The delicate sculpturing work is now on display at the Shanghai International Gymnastic Center, Xinmin Evening News reports.

The mini imperial garden is 18 meters in length and 14 meters in width, which is 1/150 of the size of the actual park. The 2,500 rooms, 12,000 trees and 5,000 figures are made with elaborate care. The windows can open and the fountains can spray.

The project was divided into 170 pieces according to trends of the rivers when it was being constructed, sculptor Kan Xisan is quoted as saying.

He was presented with maps of the garden in 1928 by his father, and had planned the project for years. Before starting the actual sculpting work, he and his partners had spent three years doing research and traveling to ancient gardens across the country.

Yuanmingyuan Park was built during the Qing Dynasty, and functioned as both an office compound and a residence area for the emperor. Covering an area of 210 hectares with 40% water surfaces, the garden was comprised of ten small gardens.

Sculptor Kan Sanxi and his artwork.

The windows can open.

The 5,000 figures are made with elaborate care.

(CRIENGLISH.com August 17, 2007)