Historic royal park faces public anger over fair

Yuanmingyuan Park is disputing public claims they will profit from running a royal temple fair and that the event would harm the cultural heritage sites.

Chen Mingjie, director of the park's administrative office, said in an online interview on Wednesday that the park, once ruined by the armies of Britain and France 150 years ago, is just an education and entertainment place for the general public.

"Therefore, an event like a temple fair is not in conflict with the function of the park," he argued.