Parts of old Beijing set to rise again

Beijing government has confirmed it intends to rebuild a number of architectural landmarks, including gate towers,along the former city wall and buildings along the "central axis" of the city.

The city wall was demolished in the 1950s, and the former gates and walls are regarded as unique icons of the old imperial city and its layout.

The government plans to rebuild six iconic constructions along the old city walls, including turrets at Zuo'anmen and You'anmen, a tower at Yondingmen, and the south-west turret of the inner city, which roughly corresponds to the south-west corner of the Second Ring Road.

There will be a memorial sign at Tianqiao, to commemorate the old stone bridge at the site of a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) entertainment district, and Yanchi Building at Di'anmen, where the steward of the Forbidden City lived in the Qing era, will also be rebuilt, according to the Beijing Youth Daily.

Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage confirmed the plan with the Global Times yesterday, but refused to reveal details, including how long the project will last.

In addition, Beijing intends to spend 1 billion yuan ($158 million) this year to protect key cultural relics, such as the central axis, which runs north to south through the heart of the capital, and China's Grand Canal, which are both to bid for listing as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.

It will also repair the six world heritage sites in Beijing, including the Summer Palace, Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven, the Beijing Youth Daily said.

"Both reconstruction and repair will give better protection for the valuable cultural relics in Beijing which have a long history," said Liu Zheng, from the China Cultural Relics Association.

A replica section of the old city wall was completed around the Yongdingmen Gate Tower in August of last year, the former front gate safeguarding the old city.

"All the work should be based on a premise to keep the original appearance. It should give us back an old city with historical significance, where we can recall the stories in this city," Liu said.

However, some experts criticized the government's plan, saying that was against the common practice of keeping original artifacts intact as is the case for many historical landmarks in other countries.

"Rebulding is not particularly valuable. To prevent new damage is more important, since we must preserve the city's past," said He Shuzhong, of Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center.

He emphasized that every Chinese person should strengthen their cultural consciousness, so as to fight against any behavior which destroys cultural relics.