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)