Long Corridor at Summer Palace Gets Face-lift

A 720-metre long corridor at gorgeous Summer Palace in the western suburbs of the national capital is undergoing an overhaul to protect the dainty paintings on its ceilings and beams against the rain.

 

The renovation project, the first of its kind since 1956, will replace 80 percent of the existing old tiles with new ones, but traditional handwork techniques will be used to retain the structure's authenticity.

 

The project, launched on March 6, is expected to be completed before the rainy season begins in mid June, a park official surnamed Liu said. The wooden frames and paintings of the Long Corridor have been blanketed with a soft material that will hopefully protect the structure from damage and rainfall during the overhaul.

 

He said the corridor has been scaffolded and closed to visitors, but tourists can visit other parts of the Summer Palace as usual.

 

The Summer Palace was named a World Heritage List site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1998.