The repair work of the Supreme Harmony Hall (Taihedian) has lasted for two and half years and it was reopened on July 16, 2008.

The repair work of the Supreme Harmony Hall (Taihedian) has lasted for two and half years and it was reopened on July 16, 2008.

The whitewashed halls of the Supreme Harmony Hall (Taihedian) stood gloriously after it was reopened on Wednesday, July 16. For more than two and half years, the building had been undergoing renovation.

The palace, commonly known as the Jinluan Palace, had the most political importance of any of the buildings in the royal palatial complex. It hosted the highest-ranking events during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Large-scale renovations of the Forbidden City began in 2003. The renovation of the Supreme Harmony Hall is a major part of the restoration project and it reopened to visitors on July 16.

As of now, more than 38,000 square meters have been repaired. Ten more exhibition halls will be opened in the Forbidden City. The repair project that is currently underway covers an area of almost 8,000 square meters.

The Supreme Harmony Hall is the largest and best-preserved wooden hall in China. Structural investigation and experimental work was done prior to the start of the renovations. Timber component parts of the palace have been reinforced with extra steel frames. Thirteen rafters and roofing materials were also modified. All the tiles have been replaced in order to keep the hall looking original, with almost the same height and degrees of arc, according to Li Yongge, director of the restoration center at the Forbidden City.

The technology applied for restoring the roof of the hall is not as complicated as described in historical records. The simplified operation has reflected the wisdom of ancient Chinese people.

In addition, ten exhibitions of cultural relics will be held in the Forbidden City for Olympic visitors in the near future.

(China.org.cn by Yang Xi, July 16, 2008)