For more than a century, the Qianlong Garden, located in the Forbidden City in Beijing, has sat without a single visitor. But that is finally changing.
In late September, the garden, constructed in the 1770s for the Qianlong emperor, officially reopened its doors after a massive 25-year restoration project, which CNN reported was, in part, thanks to the World Monuments Fund, and came with an estimated price tag between $15 and $18 million.
But it’s an investment Chinese leader Xi Jinping said is well worth it, noting during a visit that it’s “an important symbol of the Chinese civilization” and should “work harder to protect, restore, and make good use of the cultural relics.”
It’s also a restoration that Ho Puay-peng, the UNESCO Chair on Architectural Heritage Conservation and Management in Asia, says is worth the wait, telling CNN, “I am happy to see they spent such a long time on this.”
As for what guests get to experience now, TravelHost explained the garden (which is also known as the Palace of Tranquil Longevity) is spread across four connected courtyards and punctuated by 27 structures, each designed as a personal retreat for the emperor. There are also stunning rock gardens, century-old trees, and streams providing the perfect sound effects throughout.
The buildings are also full of treasures, including ornate decorations and furnishings. According to the World Monuments Fund, the emperor’s “breathtaking palace within a palace, which has survived virtually unchanged since its construction, contains some of the most extraordinary examples of Chinese interior design in existence today.”
“For over two decades, our shared goal has remained the same: to restore this iconic site according to the highest international standards of conservation and to serve as a model for future preservation projects in the Forbidden City,” it added. “The restoration of Qianlong Garden is an outstanding example of successful Chinese-American collaboration, fostering cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect.”
Of course, the team isn’t discounting just how hard this particular task really was, with a spokesperson from the organization telling The Art Newspaper, “Some of the unique challenges [of the project] included preserving delicate finishes, such as rare silk trompe l’oeil murals, historic carpentry, and rare materials like jade inlays and bamboo thread marquetry.” They added, “Oftentimes, we needed to recreate traditional materials and techniques that had fallen out of practice. This all ensured historical authenticity while integrating modern conservation science.”
To view the newly revamped garden, visitors will need to purchase tickets to The Palace Museum, which start at approximately $5.60 during the low season for adults. Just be prepared for crowds and buy your tickets early.
