The Meridian Gate of the Imperial palace in Beijing, which was built in the 18th year of the reign of the Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle (AD 1420), has been renovated as the most modernized exhibition hall in the world. This forbidden area where imperial edicts were issued and armies presented their bounties was open to the public for the first time in 600 years on April 25.

The Meridian Gate exhibition hall has been constructed as a glass-structured "crystal palace." It is located within the building but comparatively independent of ancient structures. Staff from the French Chateau of Versailles Museum said after their visit that the exhibition hall is the most advanced in the world.

Entering the exhibition hall, one realizes that not only are the outside windows enveloped in glass, but a layer of glass also separates the area between the ceiling and floor. This layer prevents a great deal of carbon dioxide acid breathed by visitors from harming the ancient Meridian Gate architecture and ceiling, painted in the 4th year of the reign of the Qing Dynasty emperor Shunzhi (AD 1647).

Due to restrictions on the conditions required for cultural relics exhibition, less than 1% of the one million rare cultural relics collected by the Imperial Palace could be shown to the public. After the completion of the Meridian Gate exhibition hall, many more make will make their debuts here.

(Chinanews.cn April 28, 2005)