(CN) Building zoo on relic ruins criticized

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China Daily http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/

(GUO NEI)

07/12/2001

 

The Chengde Cultural Heritage and Garden Bureau in North China's Hebei

Province, has been criticized by the State Administration of Cultural

Heritage for building a zoo without permission from higher authorities at

the Chengde Mountain Resort and Outlying Temples.

Listed as one of the United Nations' world heritage sites, the resort, about

200 kilometres northeast of Beijing, is China's largest imperial garden. It

was built in 1703 and is currently under strict State protection.

 

Any construction plans for the mountain resort should be submitted to higher

authorities for approval before construction begins, said Jin Hongkui,

vice-director of the Cultural Heritage Protection Department of the State

Administration of Cultural Heritage.

 

In May this year, a 3.5-hectare zoo in the area developed by the Chengde

Cultural Heritage and Garden Bureau was opened to the public.

 

Home to more than 300 animals, the zoo was built on the ruins of the Wangyue

Lou (the Moon Watching Tower), without the approval of higher authorities.

 

According to State cultural heritage protection laws, ancient buildings

which are completely destroyed cannot be rebuilt without permission from

higher authorities.

 

Any construction at the ruins of Wangyue Lou requires the approval of the

State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Jin said.

 

Zhang Liping, deputy director of the Chengde Cultural Heritage and Garden

Bureau told China Central Television recently that the zoo at the ruins of

the Wangyue Lou is temporary and therefore there was no need to get approval

from higher authorities.

 

According to the official, investigation of the zoo's construction will be

continued to guarantee the proper preservation of State cultural heritage

sites.