Yuanmingyuan, the royal gardens of the Qing Dynasty China had seen many historical events occurred on its site. It boasts profound significance in modern Chinese history. As a result, it has attracted great attention for many years.

   

Yuanmingyuan was burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Army in 1860. Seventy years later, the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture began to collect historical data of Yuanmingyuan. With the efforts of generations of scholars, research on Yuanmingyuan has seen significantly enhancement – many historical archives have been discovered and published, and research on Yuanmingyuan’s history and original state has been developed greatly. Until now, the heritage preservation philosophy of Yuanmingyuan has been changed from “the debate on whether to rebuild it” to the practical ways of preservation under the concepts of cultural heritage conservation. The study gained popularity as the public pays more and more attention to Yuanmingyuan.

   

In recent years, with the development in basic researches – archaeological excavation of related relics in Yuanmingyuan and research on original archives – and the wide use of information technologies, digital research has been put into practice in the research of Yuanmingyuan. Other new technologies were also applied to the research, presentation and management of cultural heritage, bringing new challenges and opportunities to Yuanmingyuan study.

   

However, some difficulties appeared in the research of Yuanmingyuan. For example, some remains and archives, which are of great importance to the research, presentation and management of Yuanmingyuan, are scattered; some information about Yuanmingyuan is still undisclosed; and arguments exist between the management and the presentation of cultural heritage. By holding this International Symposium, we hope that these difficulties will be solved.

   

The name of this International Symposium is “International Symposium on Yuanmingyuan (Research and Conservation) from Digital Perspectives”, including four main topics: (1) Management, custody & collection of historical data of Yuanmingyuan, (2) Research on original state of Yuanmingyuan, (3) Heritage preservation and presentation with new technologies, (4) Cultural heritage preservation with public participation.

   

The objectives of this Symposium are to discuss the problems in the research, presentation and preservation of Yuanmingyuan under the current condition, to provide a platform for deep communications among researchers, archivists and managers of cultural relics, and to foster new methodologies for the research of Yuanmingyuan.

1. Name

International Symposium on Yuanmingyuan (Research and Conservation) from Digital Perspectives

2. Organized by:

School of Architecture , Tsinghua University

Beijing Tsinghua Urban Planning & Design Institute

Administrative Office of Yuanmingyuan

3. Theme

Main topics of discussion:

1. Management, custody & collection of historical data of Yuanmingyuan;

2. Research on original state of Yuanmingyuan;

3. Heritage preservation and presentation with new technologies;

4. Cultural heritage preservation with public participation.

4. Date & Venue:

The conference will take place at the Tsinghua University , Beijing , from 17th to 19th Sept. 2010. Opening time is 9:00 am. 18th Sept. 2010.

Participants could check in at Wenjin Hotel on 17th Sept. 2010, or School of Architecture, Tsinghua University during 8:00-9:00, 18th Sept. 2010

5. Conference Language：

Chinese, English