The designer said the new Yuanmingyuan will express "the artistic quintessence of Chinese gardens."

Zong Tianliang, spokesman for the park's management office, said the project will take a year to complete.

72-year-old Xu said at an exclusive interview that he had been dreaming about the project for 15 years. The old man said he was confident of being able to recreate the splendor of Yuanmingyuan.

The plan to rebuild part of the Yuanmingyuan (the old Summer Palace) Park has met with mixed public response.

Many opponents believe that Yuanmingyuan is a symbol of humiliation to Chinese.