The architectural splendors of the imperial Tang Dynasty (618-907) are being replicated at a park in Xi'an, the ancient capital and one of China's most prestigious historic cities.

The reconstruction is based on grandeur Daming Palace, the summer resort palace of Emperor Li Shimin originally built in 634 for his father Li Yuan, the founder of Tang Dynasty. The Daming Palace, which consists of the Hanyuan Hall and a dozen other halls, later became the Tang Dynasty's political center.

Gao Benxian, head of the Institute for Protection of Daming Palace ruins, said on Wednesday the new park would showcase a wealth of cultural relics and ruins, and some ruins would be restored.

The new park, which is to cover a total area of 64.6 hectares, will comprise 46.5 hectares of green land and eight hectares of water space. The construction will cost 310 million yuan (US$37.35 million), said Gao.

Zhang Zhengjie, deputy director of the office for protection of Hanyuan Hall Ruins, said the reconstruction of Hanyuan Hall ruins had been completed earlier this year.

A separate project for the protection of Hanyuan Hall was launched back in 1995 with participation of engineers and specialists from China, Japan and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a total funding of US$2.05 million. It was completed and approved with the UNESCO endorsement in September this year.

Another program on environment protection adjacent to the Hanyuan Hall is expected to be finished in March next year, said Zhang.

Officials said they hoped the new park would be turned into a new tourist attraction in Xi'an city, home of the world-famous terra-cotta horses and warriors of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.).

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2003)