BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The renovation of the Palace of Celestial Favor, a significant compound in the Palace Museum, is slated for completion by 2027, an expert revealed Friday.
Since its reconstruction in 1697, the palace has largely retained its appearance to this day, and the completion of its renovation in 2027 will coincide with the 330th anniversary of its rebuilding, said Zhao Peng, director of the ancient architecture department of the Museum.
In 1925, the Palace Museum was established based on the Forbidden City, an imperial complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).
Zhao's remarks came at a ceremony held to mark the signing of a framework cooperation agreement with the Hong Kong Jockey Club for donation. A base for cultural exchanges between the Museum and Hong Kong was also launched at the ceremony.
Under the cooperation agreement, the donation amounts to 371 million yuan (around 52.2 million U.S. dollars). It will fund a culture dissemination and talent cultivation plan by the Palace Museum from 2024 to 2028, with the renovation of the Palace of Celestial Favor as one of its highlights, according to Zhao.
The civil engineering plan has been finalized, but work remains arduous for the subsequent stages, said the expert, pledging to make every effort to deliver the goal as scheduled.
He stressed that the team will consult international standards and strive to build a model in world cultural and heritage protection.
The palace was originally constructed in 1420 under the name of Yongning, or eternal tranquility. It underwent reconstruction during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The palace now houses 12 structures across two courtyards and takes an architectural form typical to the palaces located in the eastern and western wings of the Forbidden City's interior court. ■
