Ruins of the Hai Yan Tang 海晏堂, Hall of National Peace.. I felt a bit sad on what had happen during the war.. the burning must be very massive and violent.. Somehow I wish it never happen so we could enjoy beauty of those historical building and artifacts there.

So I wonder and ponder, is it a good effort to rebuild a replica of this great garden? In fact the effort to rebuilt it received many oppositions from academics in China. Some says it is irreplaceable and the organization mixing patriotic and business. Could it really can be rebuild in 5 or 10 years since the original took 150 years to build?

It was the end of year 2004 when I went to the actual Yuan Ming Yuan in Beijing. This is the how the actual entrance look. It was winter and so cold

And this is the replica at Zhuhai China near Macau. Contrary it was so hot as we went at summer of 2008!

In the ruins of Yuan Ming Yuan, we can't hardly see a building in 1 piece, as all are in pieces. So to imagine how the actual building look like, you need to look at these model created by artists.

As usual, tourist like to throw coins in to a nice ponds and make wishes. Don't tell me you never did that. As this model is covered with a plastic case with small holes, people can only slip in notes. Look at the rm1 I manage to slip in! Malaysia Boleh!

The Wanhua Zhen or "10,000-flower maze" if translated in English is one of the European style waterworks in Xiyang Lou Complex.

This is the replica version :) Can see the difference right? There is no brick wall and replaced by some plants to make up the maze..

In the center of Wanhua Zhen, 万花阵, sit a European-style circular pavilion. It is said that Emperor was used to sit here watching his concubines racing with yellow lantern during Mid-Autumn festival. I wish I'm the Emperor now

And this is the replica version. Somehow the replica far more inferior in quality than the actual one. Of course.. what you expect from a iFeng(iPhone replica) u bought from China?

Would anyone lost in this maze? Try to imagine some concubines running around it and crying can't find the way out.. pretty funny :D

In fact for the replica, it's impossible for me to climb over the wall as it's not made of brick. And it's green, good for eyes.. So they able to cut cost and save the environment at the same time.

The Haiyantang, 海晏堂 is a water clock fountain with 12 bronze Chinese Zodiac figures. Of course it all were stolen by the British and French during the attack. I was trying to imagine how is the actual fountain look like, seems like very grand!

The replica is having all the figures stood at the Garden of Eternal Spring, 长春园. Now 3 of them able return back to Poly Art Museum Beijing because a Chinese business group willing to spend fortune to buy it back. The 3 are Ox, Tiger and Monkey. Stanley Ho, the King of casino in Macao own the Horse and Pig figure. Of course you able to tell it's something related to horse racing and rich like pig head :)

The Yuanying Guan (远瀛观, Immense Ocean Observatory), the Dashuifa waterworks 大水法 and the throne of the Guanshuifa (观水法) are located at the center of the Xiyang Lou complex. Imagine how grand it was with all those marble pillars.. Do you wish to observe the water display like an Emperor?

Somehow when I don't feel a bit of grand at all when I was at the replica. Maybe it's because of the hot sun or too tired walking around the garden, and it's not even half the actual Yuan Ming Yuan area. Or maybe, replica is still replica.. Just like no one could replace Stephen Chow or Michael Jackson.

Anyway it's still fun to visit a replica site. Wish the upcoming project to build a full-scale mock-Yuanming Yuan at Dongyang, Zhejiang province is a success and much better!!