Jottings from the Granite Studio

As part of the facelift for 2008, Beijing’s star attraction is getting a much-needed makeover. CCTV reports (with video) that the Palace Museum (better known to laowai as “The Forbidden City”) is undergoing its “biggest renovation in 600 years.” While the palace has withstood the Boxers, 1911 Revolutionaries, Imperialist armies, Japanese troops, Red Guards, and hordes of tourists in funny matching hats following a flag on a stick, the ravages of time (not to mention what we politely call “air with Chinese characteristics”) has taken its toll. The goal is to keep preserve the look of the buildings while protecting the structures. Work has already begun at the very heart of the complex, “The Supreme Hall.”

According to renovation expert Li Yong’ge:

“The purpose of the renovation is to keep fit of the buildings. We hope there won’t be any big problems for those main architectures in another 300 years.”

Seeing as the power of the Manchus and the Mongol cavalry is pretty limited these days, 300 years sounds like a safe number.