'May-Ling Villa' renovated in Nanjing

Soong May-ling was one of the First Ladies of the Republic of China. She loved staying in a villa in the eastern suburb of the City of Nanjing for her vacations. Now this historic monument is being renovated to restore its former glory.

Soong May-ling played a prominent role in the politics of the Republic of China in the 1940s, her villa is also know as the "May-ling Palace". Built in the 1930s, it is a blend of Chinese and Western architectural design. After more than 80 years of erosion, it's time the place got a makeover.

But the challenge for the renovation project is how to repair and fix, and at the same time stay true to its original design. The staff wants only to replace the worn out parts of the building. The replacement will be an exact replica, whether it be a part of the roof or a sculpture.

A major part of the renovation project is the colored paintings, as the erosion has taken an especially heavy toll here. On the inside, the floor and windows also need repairing and reinforcing. The "May-Ling Palace" was once used as a restaurant, resulting in these awkward air conditioners. Luckily they will be removed in the new project to restore the quaint look of the villa.

According to officials, the project is now in the competitive bidding stage and the renovation will take a year to be completed.