| 500 Stone Relics from Imperial Garden Found |
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issue time:2006-06-22 13:51
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Chinese archeologists have determined that the 500-plus stone relics recently dug up by road construction workers in northwestern Beijing belong to Yuanmingyuan, an imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The precious relics have been returned to Yuanmingyuan, where they will be used to reconstruct old buildings in the garden, known for its exquisite blend of different styles of gardens in China and the West. The stone sculptures and inscriptions were discovered in the capital city's Haidian District during the construction of the fourth ring road that will circle the periphery of Beijing. Yuanmingyuan, built over a 150-year period from 1709-1859, covers 330 hectares. It was destroyed in a fire set by British and French forces in October, 1860. And in 1900, it was again looted and burned by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Emperors of the Qing Dynasty enjoyed leisure hours in the magnificent garden, and many ministers built their homes near it. Documents from the period show, however, that the ministers secretly carted away cultural relics from the imperial garden and buried them in their backyards. Archeologists believe that more similar treasures will be discovered with the further development of Zhongguancun, known as China's Silicon Valley, located in the northwestern part of Beijing.
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