There
is an ongoing discussion about what to restore.
Almost no rebuilding of above-the-ground
structures has been undertaken yet (except for
some bridges). However, most of the lakes and
waterways have been drained, tidied, banks
rebuilt and refilled with water, while hills
around the lakes have been cleared of brushwood,
recreating long forgotten vistas.
The debate on the
pros and cons of rebuilding continues. Some
oppose rebuilding, considering that leaving the
site in ruins can help teach future Chinese
generations about the history of foreign invasion
and destruction.
A good example of
the debate can be read here.
Probably the
western style palaces will be left as ruins and
gradually some of the chinese style architecture
will be rebuilt.
Close to the ruins
of the western style palaces is the museum. It
elaborates the history of YuanMingYuan and its
future restoration. Also inside is a copy of a
letter written in 1861 by Victor Hugo condemning
the destruction by the invading Anglo-French
troops as barbaric.
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YuanMingYuan One
