China's Forbidden
City, one of the world's largest imperial palaces, will undergo
overhaul in the coming three years, the Beijing News reported
Saturday.
The move was aimed to restore the imperial grandeur of the
palace halls and protect the relics collections inside, the
newspaper cited Jin Hongkui, vice curator of the Palace Museum, as
saying.
Jin said the Imperial Palace underwent renovation projects in
2003. As for the upcoming overhaul, he said that it is a priority
to maintain the structure of palace halls and to protect the
surrounding environment.
Meanwhile, keen attention will be paid to exhibition, fire
control, and safety issues and other functions, Jin said.
Repairing materials will be China's traditional architectural
materials, including bricks, stones, glazed titles, and gold foil,
except a wall coating imported from the Republic of Korea,
according to the paper.
The 585-year-old Forbidden City was the former residence of
China's 24 emperors in the country's history.
(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2006)
