Editor's Note:
A Chinese research group announced on April 18 it had used computer imaging software to digitally map 60 percent of the original appearance of Beijing’s renowned Old Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan. The research group led by Guo Daiheng, a professor of architecture at Tsinghua University, said during a press briefing that the team took 15 years to complete the digital restoration, according to a report from the Beijing News.
More than 80 members of the team restored more than 4,000 design charts and built more than 2,000 digital architectural models after researching over 10,000 historical files during the restoration process, according to the report. Built in the early 18th century during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Old Summer Palace was torched by British and French invaders in 1860.
A digital view of the restored Fanghu Wonderland at the Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of the restored Fanghu Wonderland at the Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of restored buildings at the Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of the restored Zhengda Guangming Hall, where emperors dealt with political affairs at the Old Summer Palace during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of a vegetable garden at the Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of the restored Wanfang Anhe Palace (Palace of Universal Peace) at the Old Summer Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of a restored garden at the Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital bird’s-eye view of the restored Old Summer Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of a restored garden at the Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of a restored Western-style fountain at the Old Summer Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited
A digital view of a restored Western-style building at the Old Summer Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital view of the restored Haiyan Hall (Hall of National Peace) at the Old Summer Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital bird’s-eye view of the restored Old Summer Palace from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited 
A digital bird’s-eye view of the restored Old Summer Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Re-Yuanmingyuan Company Limited
