(Xinhua/Luo Xin)
Restoration work at the Qingcheng Palace complex, a royal sacrificial site located along Beijing’s historic central axis, has been completed, local authorities said.
After spending the last 15 months demolishing houses and renovating royal buildings, the historic structure of the complex has been restored. The palace is expected to be opened to the public in the future.
Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the palace is located inside the Altar of the God of Agriculture, also known as Xiannongtan Temple. The palace was once known as Zhaigong, which literally translates to the Palace of Fasting. It was a place where emperors would abstain from heavy meals and meditate before worship.
It was renamed Qingcheng Palace in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), becoming a place where emperors held celebratory rituals after cultivation ceremonies, while praying for a good harvest.
The restoration work on the old buildings began in June last year, following the principle of “minimal intervention”. This approach focused on targeted repairs of damaged cultural relics, such as tiles and walls. Traditional materials were used to pave the courtyard floor.
The workers also renovated the drainage system, and equipped the houses with air conditioners and necessary lighting installations. In addition, security monitoring systems, fire-fighting systems and lightning protection devices were also installed.
Pan Wei, deputy director of the Beijing Museum of Ancient Architecture, expressed hope that Qingcheng Palace will become a place where visitors can experience traditional culture, and experts can have academic exchanges on world cultural heritage. He believes that such activities could “enhance public awareness of the protection of historical and cultural heritage.”
Stretching 7.8 kilometers from Yongding Gate in the south to the Bell and Drum Towers in the north, Beijing’s central axis was built according to the plan of an ideal capital: the royal court in front, the market in the back, ancestral shrines on the left and sacrificial altars on the right. It was inscribed on the United Nations cultural heritage list in July.
