The western part of the Yuanmingyuan Ruin Park will open to public in October this year, an official of the palace said Friday.

Yuanmingyuan, the Chinese emperor's private pleasure garden, was built in the early 18th century and was once known as "Versailles of the East." It was overrun by British and French infantry in 1860.

In preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the western part of Yuanmingyuan, consisting over 20 scenic sites, has been undergoing renovations since 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2005)