Bronze horse head becomes first such looted relic to return to China

A bronze horse head, donated by late billionaire Stanley Ho, has become the first of the 12 looted zodiac relics to return to Beijing's Yuanmingyuan, also known as the Old Summer Palace. 

The relics were looted from the royal garden of the palace by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.

The horse head along with 11 other animal head sculptures once formed a zodiac water clock in Beijing's Yuanmingyuan, which was built by Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796). 

The bronze horse head is pictured at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

The bronze horse head is pictured at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

The bronze horse head is pictured at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

The bronze horse head is pictured at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

A restoration model of the zodiac water clock in Yuanmingyuan, Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

A restoration model of the zodiac water clock in Yuanmingyuan, Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

A restoration model of animal head sculptures at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

A restoration model of animal head sculptures at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

A restoration model of animal head sculptures at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP

A restoration model of animal head sculptures at an exhibition in Beijing, China, December 2, 2020. /CFP