A throne belonging to Emperor Qianlong during the Qing Dynasty in the 1700's has sold for 5.15 million US dollars at auction. The sale took place in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province.A visitor looks at a throne of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during an auction preview in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Jan 7, 2015. The seat, made of rosewood and inlaid with gold and exquisite flowers pattern, is given a starting price of 35 million yuan ($5.6 million). It was from the Hall of Imperial Supremacy (Huangji dian) in the Forbidden City, the main hall in the area of Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshou gong), which the Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) built for spending his years after his retirement [Credit: China News Service]
The throne, made of rosewood and inlaid with gold and a floral pattern, was owned by philanthropist Li Chunping.
It took him three years to buy the throne from a descendant of a royal highness of the Qing Dynasty in Tianjin.
Li said the final price was lower than he expected and that the throne will have a higher value after two or three years.
A buyer from Beijing bought the throne after three rounds of bidding.
China has applied for World Heritage status for the ancient rock carvings of the Huashan Mountain in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in 2016.
Rock paintings of the Huashan Mountain in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region [Credit: Xinhua]
According to China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage, UNESCO has already made a preliminary review of the application. A series of official documents to protect the ancient site of rock paintings in Huashan Mountain were issued. So far, around 150 million yuan has been invested on the relevant work to preserve the site. Better management and enhanced conservation efforts have been launched.
The rock paintings of Huashan Mountain are located on the west bank of the Mingjiang River in the Yaoda town, Ningming county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. It is the biggest, most content-rich and best-preserved ancient rock carvings in China among all the discovered cultural relics to date. With a history of around 1800-2500 years, the sites were left from sacred activities of the ancient Luoyue people of the Zhuang ethnic groups in the drainage area of the Zuojiang River during the Warring States period (475-221BC) and Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD).
The whole painting stretches more than 200 meters in length and around 40 meters in height, with more than 1800 images in it, including people, horses, dogs, knives, swords and drums. Though a variety of archaeological theories have been made to explain the origin of the ancient artistic work, the exact reason for its creation still remains a mystery.
A fire in the southwest of China has destroyed the 600-year-old Gongchen tower, part of an ancient city gate in Weishan county in Dali prefecture, Yunnan province.
The fire started at about 3 a.m. on Saturday. Firefighters struggled for nearly 2 hours to put out the flames. About 300 square meters of the architecture was burnt down. No causalities have been reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Gongchen tower was a city gate tower, which was built in 1390 during the Ming Dynasty. It was listed as a key cultural protection site in Yunnan province. Last month, a fire engulfed an ancient Miao village in southwest China's Guizhou Province.
In 2006, China nominated the village as a UNESCO World Heritage site. And in January last year, Dukezong Ancient Town, in the famous resort county Shangri-la in Yunnan province, was also burned down in a fire. The so called "Moonlight City" is one of the most renowned resorts in Shangri-la, known for its well-preserved ancient Tibetan dwellings.
At two kilometres in circumference and protected by an imposing 12-metre wall, the Ming Dynasty's 'Martial City' had a reputation that struck fear into opposing armies.The fortress was built in 1393 and managed to repel all attacks by the invading Mongolian armies [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]
So much so that battle plans would be drawn up to specifically give the castle at Zhangjiakou, in China's northern Hebei province, a wide berth.
The fortress measures some two kilometres in circumference and was protected by an imposing 12-metre wall [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]
Now archaeologists have begun a daunting project to restore the once-mighty site to something approaching it previous glory, in particular the dilapidated outer wall that repelled every attack which invading Mongolian armies could throw at it.
Among the works being carried out at Wanquan Castle is the restoration of the fortress' dilapidated outer wall [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]
The restoration of the fortress - which was given the coveted title of 'Wucheng' or 'Martial City' after its construction in 1393 - will see building work completed in the original Ming Dynasty style of architecture, Cinese sources report.
Workers restore the southern barbican entrance to Wanquan Castle, which was known as the Ming Dynasty's 'Martial City' [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]
The project will see the restoration of the Ming and Qing era commercial districts, the Great Wall Martial Museum, the Golden Harvest Academy and performance theatres as well as the opening of the Red Tourist Route, with all work planned to be complete in 2016. The restoration work will also include the ongoing protection of surviving structures.
While much of the interior city is in good condition, the outer wall is somewhat dilapidated and will be the focus of much of the work [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]
The castle in Wanquan county - known in China as a 'living fossil of the Ming military system' - was built in 1393 but is relatively well-preserved, especially the interior city area which includes the residences of generals and wealthy merchants.
The restoration work, which is due to be completed next year, will where possible be carried out in the style of Ming Dynasty architecture [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]
The fortress has huge historical, cultural and military significance and has key cultural relic status in China.
Author: Edward Chow | Source: Daily Mail Online [April 07, 2015]
The Hanoi People's Committee has approved the restoration of Thang Long Citadel Complex's Kinh Thien Palace in Hanoi, which was used for royal meetings under the reigns of the Ly (1009-1225), Tran (1226-1400), Le (1428-1789) and Nguyen (1802-1945) Dynasties, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.Remains of the Kinh Thien Palace [Credit: VNS]
The Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Preservation Centre and the Vietnam Archaeology Institute started excavating the Kinh Thien Palace site in February, 2014.
In recent years researchers have suggested restoring the palace, but they did not have enough information on the building's original architecture and measurements. Most of it was destroyed by the French in 1886. They left behind only the floor and a staircase bordered by two stone dragons.
Remains of the staircase at Kính Thiên Palace, Hanoi Citadel [Credit: Gryffindor/WikiCommons]
Scientists said that if they received enough support from concerned agencies, the rebuilding could be started within five years, once enough information on the palace's architecture was gathered. Under the recently approved project, scientists will do more research, design a 3D building plan and submit it to the authority by 2016.
According to Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (Complete Annals of Dai Viet), construction on Kinh Thien Palace began in 1428 under the reign of King Le Thai To and was completed under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong.
French soldiers taking photos on the steps of Kinh Thien Palace during the encamping period here. (Taken by Doctor Charles – Edouard Hocquard during 1884) [Credit: Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre]
The palace is among the most important buildings in the citadel complex and was often used for Le kings' big diplomatic or political events.
After Oct 10, 1954, when anti-French resistance troops took over the city, the site was used as an office for the Ministry of Defence. In 2014 the Ministry gave part of the site to the city's administration.
Kính Thiên Palace in the Citadel of Hanoi, 1884-1885 [Credit: WikiCommons]
The Kinh Thien Palace relic is an essential part of the citadel. Doan Mon (South Gate) and Hanoi Flag Pole are positioned in front of the palace. Behind the palace is the Hau Lau Building and Cua Bac (North Gate). The eastern and western sides of the palace are also bordered with walls and smaller gates.
The stone dragons at the palace's staircase are considered a special piece of architectural heritage, representing sculpture art of the Early Le period.
