Let it lie, or rebuild it? This is the puzzle for China's historians and cultural relics reservists.

An unofficial organization, the Zhejiang Hengdian Foundation for Chinese Cultural Development, has officially unveiled its plan to rebuild Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) in Hengdian, Zhejiang, which was destroyed hundreds of years ago and is now in ruins, writes the Xinhua News Agency on October 19.

A hundred and forty-six years ago, an allied invasion of soldiers from Britain and France burned the symbol of China's feudalism to rubble.

"The renovation work will be a 1-1 scale of Wan Yuan Zhi Yuan," chief designer Zhang Xianchun told Xinhua.

The China Culture Relics Protection Foundation and the Zhejiang Hengdian Foundation for Chinese Cultural Development have initiated a special Yuanmingyuan culture relics protection fund, which marks the commence of the renovation project.

The rebuilding will cover more than 6,000 mu (400 hectares) of land and cost 20 billion yuan (US$2,529 million), according to Xinhua.

Director of the Zhejiang Hengdian Foundation for Chinese Cultural Development Xu Wenron told Xinhua the fund is to be collected from communities from both at home and abroad, to cover the renovation of the project and relic collection.

A dream of 72-year-old Xu's since 15 years ago, the renovation will be a connection between the past and the present.

"I am confident that rebuilding the royal garden will display the then prosperity and present power of China," Xu told Xinhua.

Xu's comments sparked public comment.

"It is another theme garden in Hengdian," writes Xinhua.

There are 2500 theme parks in China, 70 per cent of which are in debt.

Covering a span of 150 years and six emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911AD) from its start to the end, Yunmingyuan was hailed a climax of Chinese royal garden construction in its time. Meanwhile, a tag of humiliation has been attached to its ruins.

Criticism and support brings the initiators under pressure and presents a dilemma.

Tongji University National Research Center of Historic Cities director Ruan Yisan poured cold water on the controversial move, saying the then grand garden died in the fire.

"The rubbles represent the harsh and bitter history of the Chinese nation. Rebuilding does not make sense," Ruan said.

The garden was left in ruins to remind students of what happened, and give them a sense of history.

The rehabilitation in Hengdian and the rubbles in Beijing produce a sharp contrast and are a key to helping youngsters remember the national humiliations China has suffered.