Oct 19, 2020, 13:48
（CGTN） The Old Summer Palace in Beijing will allow free entry to the public on Sunday, the day that marks the 160th anniversary of the burning and massive looting of the palace, in a bid to remember history and draw more people into the memorial place.
160 years ago, the Old Summer Palace, known as the "garden of gardens," was looted and burned down by Western powers. Numerous treasures disappeared and the famous garden was gradually abandoned. Later, the Old Summer Palace was turned into a park, but it remained as it was when it was destroyed.
As the restoration work continues, some experts and scholars say the Old Summer Palace needs a museum to store items that behold precious historical memories. Should we keep it original or restore it?
The old Summer Palace need not be restored, there are already too many places in China were genuine historic areas have been demolished and revamped in a very tacky and inauthentic way e.g. Fuzhou, Chaozhou, Ningbo. Better to leave some evidence of past historical locations in tact, similar to Rome, Istanbul, Xi'an or Athens.
Many came to the Summer Palace not only for sightseeing but also for witnessing how the Eight Allied Armies invaded, plundered and damaged China barbarically during the 19th century. Reconstruction might restore the palace to its former glory but would erase the only physical remains of China's defeat and humiliation. Leaving the ruins as they are will remind generations to work hard and make the country powerful so that China will never suffer such humiliation again!
Keep the damaged treasures original or restore it?
I think the answer vary depending on the state of demage. If it the demage was minor, then restore it; if it was seriously harmed, then let it remain the state as the demage was a part of history. Experts can place a digital version of restored besides it so that visitors could have more a complete vision.
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