In Beijing, Yuanmingyuan, also known as the Old Summer Palace, has kicked off its "Restoration 1860" project. The endeavor aims to repair the cultural relics unearthed at the former imperial garden complex, which burned down in the 19th century.

The restoration involves experts sorting, matching, and piecing together fragments of artifacts. The process is conducted by referencing cultural relics from the same period of time.

The first phase has seen the repair of six cultural relics, which will soon be displayed in Yuanmingyuan. Their 3D scanned data will be documented in an online digital museum.

Chen Hui, who leads Yuanmingyuan's archaeological department, said: "We have chosen to first restore these six pieces in particular, because they all were unearthed in a very specific location. For example, the blue and white China tiles come from the site of the Studio of Meditation on Eternity. And this stool is also a highlight. It has a very original design. We found it near the Gold Fish Pond. Other items include daily utensils and works of art. Their locations of discovery have lent special significance to their place in the Garden's history."

Yuanmingyuan's administration promises the restoration will both maintain the historical authenticity of the cultural relics and reflect their aesthetic value.

"This is only the first phase of the project. The restoration will be an ongoing process. In the near future, we will bring back more cultural relics from these pieces," Chen Hui said.

The imperial garden, once regarded an architectural wonder of its age, was built in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Qing Dynasty. In October 1860, British and French forces burned down the building complex during the Second Opium War.