In 1959 when Sanmenxia Conservancy Project was launched, the local government decided to move Yongle Palace since it was right in the planned inundated area. The biggest problem was not the movement of the structure, but how to move those huge, fragile mural paintings while keeping them safe and sound. Top experts and artisans from across the country cut murals into nearly 500 pieces, moved them to an ancient capital site 20 kilometers away from Ruicheng County, pieced them together again and then pasted them onto the walls of the moved structure. The whole project was completed in 1964 and exquisite buildings and mural paintings reappeared. Cut lines between mural paintings are so tiny that visitors can hardly find and thus the artistic appeal and value of those murals are retained.

More murals in Yongle Palace

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