Background: the construction of the main buildings of the Hall of Martial Prowess, started on October 17, 2002, has by now been completed. Taking this part of ancient structures as a trial site for the whole restoration work of the Forbidden City is not a random choice, since this structure group, worn down by the years without repair, forms a rather independent complex and never opened to public. All these made it suitable for a trial project, a prelude to revamping the Palace Museum as a whole.

The whole renovation project, said Jin, is planned to be finished in three stages.

First, from October 2002 to October 2005, repairing the Meridian Gate, the Hall of Imperial Peace (Qin'andian), and rooms along the central axis; second, from November 2005 to the even of 2008 Olympic Games, restoring the major halls at the central axis, such as the Hall of Highest Harmony (Taihedian), the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), as well as the Six Palaces of the East and West (Dongxiliugong); third, from 2008 to 2020, finishing the whole work.

This is, as learned, the biggest overhaul to the Forbidden City since the Revolution of 1911.

The renovations mean to carry forward our traditions Reporter: the renovation of the Forbidden City is a big thing that requires much deliberation, which was also questioned by many architects, historians and social personages. Then what on earth kicked off this time's overhaul, the biggest one in a century?

Jin: since the Forbidden City came into being in 1420, maintenance and repairing work has virtually never ceased, except that from 1911 to 1948 the due work came to a halt because of limitations in social conditions. The work is confined to salvage--natured protective measures even after a long period since the founding of New China in 1949, which is far from an overall renovation. By saying carrying forward traditions we mean this time's project has not many new things, but only bigger in scale. We will fully respect the traditions of our predecessors, and make repairing on the base they laid down. We must preserve for the 21st century and later generations a Forbidden City which is of real and complete value as cultural relics, and meantime bring into better play its unique role in today's society.

Fully restore the grandeur of feudal times Reporter: since you said not many new things are added into the project, what goal the renovation is aiming at?

Jin: our aim is to protect the Forbidden City as a whole, and restore its appearance during the reigns of emperors "Kangxi" and "Qianlong", the prime of feudal ruling in Qing Dynasty.

Reporter: but who can tell, as some experts doubted, the real look of the Forbidden City during that time?

Jin: we are not saying simply restoring every hall and palace its original appearance at that time. We but divide the goal into three respects. Firstly, to show the Forbidden City, as a whole, as what it should looked in the prime of Qing ruling; secondly, to lift the techniques and materials used to a prime level, which, in fact, needs much efforts at the current stage; thirdly, to raise project management, ancient architecture protection, utilization and administration to an advanced level and realize strictly modernized management.

The overall maintenance and repairing cover more than ancient constructions Reporter: currently the biggest concern from the society is-- how on earth the Forbidden City is being renovated?

Jin: the overall maintenance and repairing must complete five tasks. First, to protect the original layout of the Forbidden City and make every effort to improve its internal and external environments; second, on top of keeping the appearance and artistic value of ancient constructions, to protect their value as cultural relics and historic buildings; third, to revamp the infrastructure of the Forbidden City, since many of them, laid down half a century ago, are too old to meet the demand of modern management and opening to visitors; some even spoil the scene; fourth, some ancient buildings are still improperly occupied and used by units inside and outside the Forbidden City, which is under great pressure out of the purposes of exhibition, preservation, office and management, and tourist service. The problem must be properly addressed and solved. Besides, as a world-renowned museum, the exhibition halls are in urgent need to be lifted in artistic taste and modern facilities to match with the grandeur of the ancient buildings.

Clash between construction and opening to visitors the biggest question Reporter: could you tell us how the renovation plan is worked out?

Jin: what we are doing to the Forbidden City is in accordance with the scientific procedure laid out by the Law of the People¡¯s Republic on the Protection of Cultural Relics¡ªinvestigation, appraisal, draft of plan and implementation. For every building, our work is based on its real conditions as well as early-stage studies and on-the-spot examinations.

For more than one year, we arranged and conducted many preliminary studies except for the said trial project, including measuring and investigating work on constructions involved in the first stage. Renovation plan must be made out on the basis of these work and discussed by experts and approved by higher-level departments as a due procedure.

Reporter: then what's the biggest problem in the renovation work? When building the Forbidden City almost all precious timbers in the country were used, which is simply impossible today. Are materials and techniques problems?

Jin: we certainly have problems in materials and techniques, but they are not unsolvable, for we have a professional team for preserving ancient buildings since the 1950s. Of course our traditional techniques are not carried on so well, with the papering technique, for example, facing extinction. That's why we launched a trial project and tried to preserve traditional techniques as much as possible. The biggest problem, however, is the clash between construction and opening to visitors.

"Not changing the original state of cultural relics" Reporter: even since the renovation of the Forbidden City, arguments on "restore the old as being old" and "restore the old as being new" never ceased. How to deal with the relations between traditional materials and modern techniques?

Jin: the principle of "restore the old as being old" is put forward by Mr. Liang Sicheng, architect of an older generation and pioneer of the nation's undertakings in cultural relic protection. These are literary words on ancient building preservation, but not legal terms. A more precise expression is "not changing the original state of cultural relics" provided by the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics, and this is also the basic principle of this time¡¯s revamping work.

I don't think there should exist much argument on traditional materials and new techniques. Traditional techniques are "non-physical cultural relics", and therefore should be preserved and protected. Traditional way is always the first choice. Then why we still have to introduce in modern techniques? I believe that modern techniques can bring us a thoroughly new understanding of ancient buildings, and may solve those problems not seen or not well solved in the past.

The application of new techniques and materials must be under three conditions. First, they are mature and effective; second, they carry no harms; third, they don't affect future protection work, and nothing should be done before making experiments.

Underground exhibition hall under feasibility studies Reporter: another important part of the renovation work is the building of an underground exhibition hall with advanced facilities, but that invited hot dispute?

Jin: currently the Palace Museum houses more than 1 million pieces of treasures, which should be displayed as much as possible. However, the result is not so good due to poor exhibition conditions here and limitations on ancient building protection. So the proposal of building an underground exhibition hall was made.

The Palace Museum has entrusted authoritative engineering unites for the investigation and measuring work at the spot, who are now busily doing the work of calculating, analyzing and report drafting.