The Yangxin Gate (Photo/The Palace Museum)
The Palace Museum starts official renovation on the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City today, a building where emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) resided and handled state affairs, according to china.cnr.cn.
Yangxin Dian, or the Hall of Mental Cultivation, is one of the most intriguing palaces in the Forbidden City. Starting in the Yongzheng period, Yangxin Dian was a political decision-making center in the Qing Dynasty and the residence of eight Qing emperors.
The palace had been closed two years and eight months before the official renovation started. According to museum curator Shan Jixiang, during this period the museum had conducted systematic training with 275 craftsmen, covering detailed skills for ancient architecture construction and traditional repairing techniques. 116 craftsmen passed the selection test, and serve as the main force for the renovation of Yangxin Dian.
