A renovation plan and blueprint on historical architecture in the Zuiweng Pavilion scenic area in Xuzhou city, Anhui province, was released at a press conference for the pavilion's repair project on Nov 1, Travel.anhuinews.com reported.

The renovation project will repair the ancient architectures to their original look described in historical literary works, according to the administrative committee of the Langya Mountains. The project will be completed within half a year.

As the key scenic spot of the Langyang Mountains area, Zuiweng Pavilion is famous because of The Zuiweng Pavilion, a masterpiece by Ouyang Xiu, a literary giant in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The pavilion was crowned as the best of four ancient pavilions in the nation for its profound cultural background and unique and quaint architecture structures.

Buildings in the scenic area were constructed during different times by different hands, making it more difficult to protect and repair. Despite the fact that these buildings were put under provincial protection as early as 1981, the wooden structures have fallen due to moisture in the mountainous area after thousands of years.

“The renovation work was scheduled several years ago, but the plan has been modified multiple times and has yet to be confirmed,” said an insider with the area's administrative committee. “The final plan and blueprint were drafted with help from the Architecture Design and Research College of Tongji University. They have been approved by the Anhui Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau.”

According to Li Zhen, doctoral supervisor of the college and an architect, the repair work can only extend the structures' life expectancy. “We are trying to use materials and techniques most similar to the original ones to keep them authentic,” he said. 　

Architectures in the pavilion scenic area will be renovated in different ways in line with their construction period. The most ancient and important architectures, such as Zuiweng, Yingxiang, Yizai, and Gumei pavilions, will be protected and repaired with no major modifications. Others that are less ancient but well preserved, including Erxian Hall and Fegong Ancestral Temple, will only be maintained. Structures of low-quality or no historical value will be reconstructed or demolished.

The construction will soon be implemented, said an official of the administrative committee at the press conference. The scenic area will stay open to tourists during the renovation period, which will last about half a year. The management committee asked for understanding due to possible inconveniences during renovation. The committee also promised to secure the safety of tourists and said that the construction welcomes social supervision. The committee will keep in touch with the media on the project's progress.

Construction supervision contact and phone numbers: Project construction: Zhang Bin, Construction office of the Langya Mountains administrative committee, 13909607786

Cultural relic protection and renovation: Liu Nanchuan, Cultural relic office of the Langya Mountains administrative committee, 13955080086

Manager of the project at the Langya Mountains administrative committee: Li Yuyou, 13905501050

Edited by Michael Thai, Huang Pei