Jianfu Gong, aka the Palace of Established Happiness in the Forbidden City, has been transformed into "a private club exclusively for the 500 richest people in the world," alleges a microblog entry by China Central Television anchor Rui Chenggang. The entry drew 7,580 views and 2,596 comments in one day.

Rui revealed that a "noted company and organization that manages the Forbidden City" is in charge of the project and attached a Web link for the Forbidden City Culture Development Company (FCCDC).

Chang Lingxing, a Palace Museum public relations employee, said Jianfu Gong is under restoration and has never been open to the public.

"It's not convenient to comment," was all Chang would say when asked if a private club was in the works.

Chang's colleague Li Bin admitted the FCCDC is a subsidiary of the Palace Museum.

FCCDC describes itself as a company that carries out "cultural exchanges and high-end tourism projects based on the Forbidden City's resources and venues" on its website.

The Global Times made many calls to the FCCDC, but no one was willing to discuss Jianfu Gong, with respondents alternately confirming and denying involvement, even though an FCCDC extension goes to a recording that starts with "This is Jianfu Gong."

A recruitment ad for trainees posted last October by FCCDC on a Guangzhou-based job-hunting website revealed more. The ad said the company was working on a new project called Jianfu Gong that would let guests experience "the essence of Chinese lifestyle though imperial food, tea culture and traditional arts." FCCDC was looking for people to help build Jianfu Gong into a "platform promoting imperial culture, honorable identities and business trading overseas."

Hundreds of Web users criticized the project as a commercial effort that would trample Chinese culture, reminiscent of the huge protests that resulted when the Starbucks coffee chain operated a store in the Forbidden City for six years. It was closed in July 2007, after a 500,000-signature online campaign.

Jianfu Gong was built in 1742, and became Emperor Qianlong's favorite retreat, according to the Palace Museum's official website.

The Palace of Established Happiness burned down in 1923, and the Hong Kong-based China Heritage Fund offered $4 million to support its restoration in 1998, according to a May 2006 People's Daily report. Jianfu Gong would serve as a "non-commercial site that greets VIPs from other countries and holds small exhibitions," the report said.

Tang Pengcheng, a member of the Chinese Cultural Relics Academy, was concerned about turning a national treasure into a place of business.

"It means more challenges for security and relics protection," Tang said. "For a historical site like the Forbidden City, the revenue from the tickets of over 10 million tourists a year could certainly cover costs. Why risk a national treasure for more cash?"