Summer Palace pavilion restored to former glory

The hall was a two-story pavilion when it was built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and then known as Tanhua Pavilion, but it was badly burned by Anglo-French forces in 1860. It was rebuilt in 1891-93, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875-1908).

Historical records show Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) received foreign envoys and welcomed their family members in the building, which was not far from her residence in the Summer Palace.

Rong Hua, head of the department of ancient architecture projects at the Summer Palace, stressed the principle of minimizing interference with the building and not changing its original facade during restoration.