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A 260-year-old imperial garden, once the favorite of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and destroyed by fire 80 years ago, has been restored after five years of efforts

This is the first restoration project since 1911 within the Forbidden City, formerly the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

The restoration work of the Garden of the Palace of Established Happiness was funded by the Hong Kong-based China Heritage Fund. It cost nearly 100 million yuan (about US$12.5 million).

Historical records were used to guide the work, and traditional Chinese technologies were employed, according to Happy Harun, a deputy of the China Heritage Fund.

"No cement or steel bars were used in restoring the buildings in the garden," Harun said, adding: "We rebuilt the garden just how Emperor Qianlong built it originally."

The garden was first built in 1740 in the northwestern part of the Forbidden City. Emperor Qianlong housed his cherished antiques here. But the garden and its numerous antiques were destroyed by fire in 1923.

Emperor Puyi, or the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, who was still living in the Forbidden City at that time, suspected that the fire was started by eunuchs who had stolen antiques from the garden and wanted to destroy the evidence.

Li Yongge, head of the Ancient Building Repair Center of the Palace Museum, said that experts collected a large amount of historical evidence to help in the restoration of the garden.

Old pictures and paintings of the Qing Dynasty featuring the garden, as well as aerial photos, were found in France and Taiwan by the China Heritage Fund, which offered reliable a basis for the restoration work, Li said.

Experts also reviewed unique techniques that were used to restore a similar garden in the northeastern part of the Forbidden City.

The restored garden will be used to host academic activities and small exhibitions, and receive important guests. It will not be open to ordinary tourists, according to Palace Museum officials.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2006)