The pictures shows Yuanmingyuan before it was burned down by British and French troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

Wang said the question of whether to rebuild the ruined structures was raised as early as the 1980s and it still remains a much debated topic among experts today.

"Methods to protect ground ruins vary from country to country, and there are no ready paths to follow," said Wang.

He said the rehabilitation project of the western part was a first attempt, bearing in mind that the restoration work is reversible since people still have different options as to how Yuanmingyuan should be presented to the public.

Some experts suggest the park be restored according to its original design to exhibit Chinese imperial culture.

Others say the park could never again be its exquisite self after the 1860 war. They believe the park's main value is the lessons the ruins teach later generations about the country's humiliating past.

Yuanmingyuan vanishes in 1860.

"We follow the second opinion to preserve the current ruins and avoid establishing any new buildings which are but a simple replica of the original," said Wang.

Zhu Hong, vice-director of the Yuanmingyuan Management Administration, said workers are busy building necessary facilities such as paths and bridges for people to visit.

She said her administration has helped more than 600 households and 13 work units move out of the garden since 2000 and invested 65 million yuan (US$8 million) to recover the original outline of hills and water systems, as well as planting trees and grass in the western part of Yuanmingyuan.

(Editor: Yiyi)