A private company has announced plans to rebuild Beijing's famous Yuanmingyuan Park ... in Zhejiang Province.

Hengdian Group, famous for running a huge film and television complex in the East China province, made the announcement yesterday.

Yuanmingyuan, the old Summer Palace, is a Qing Dynasty Imperial Park in the northwest of Beijing.

Construction began in 1709 and continued for 150 years under five emperors. But it was burnt to the ground in 1860 by French and British troops.

Hengdian will rebuild Yuanmingyuan near Dongyang in the centre of the province. A spokesman for the group surnamed Shi said it will be built to scale, covering an area of 350 hectares.

Shi said the plan has gained support from the government as it will bring new impetus to the local economy, especially the tourism industry.

The group will invest 20 billion yuan (US$2.47 billion) over five years.

"The park will be located in a remote place in the countryside, with hills, rivers and farmland, which corresponds to the original environment of the real Yuanmingyuan," Shi said.

"It will be a multi-functional theme park," Shi said.

Shi said the park can serve as an educational base of patriotism.

"If visitors compare the magnificent park with the ruins of the Yuanmingyuan in Beijing, they will keep in mind the sufferings of our nation in modern history," Shi said.

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