The “Yuanmingyuan Digital Exhibition: The Craft of Memory” opened on the 3rd at the World Skills Museum in Shanghai, inviting visitors to step into the “virtually reborn” Yuanmingyuan through “digital reality,” embarking on a journey through time and space.

The exhibition is divided into five sections: “The Emperor’s Yuanmingyuan,” “The Art of Garden Design,” “Secrets of Construction,” “If It Still Stood,” and “Dreaming Back to Yuanmingyuan.” Among these, the immersive VR exploration experience in “Dreaming Back to Yuanmingyuan” is the highlight of the exhibition.

The project meticulously recreates the palaces, gardens, and daily scenes of Yuanmingyuan in its heyday with millimeter-level precision, authentically restoring its historical appearance and presenting a dual narrative of “ruins on-site + virtual rebirth.”

Originally built in the 46th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1707), Yuanmingyuan combined various artistic styles, including imperial architecture, Jiangnan gardens, mythological landscapes, and European-style buildings, earning it the title of the “Garden of Gardens.” Its 150-year construction period embodied the dedication of countless craftsmen and artisans.

As a masterpiece of the World Skills Museum’s “Mastery of Skills” series, “Yuanmingyuan Digital Exhibition: The Craft of Memory” shifts focus from traditional imperial narratives to the “forgotten builders of history,” decoding construction secrets from the perspective of craftsmen and showcasing their ingenuity.

For example, the third section, “Secrets of Construction,” uses the recently recovered archival document “Yuanmingyuan Craftsmen’s Regulations” as a guide to reveal the legacy of the “Yangshi Lei” family, who oversaw the garden’s design for seven generations. Through stories of master craftsmen and the fusion of Eastern and Western techniques in its architecture, the exhibition vividly outlines a “hundred-scene panorama” of Yuanmingyuan’s craftsmanship, using digital technology and artistic language to showcase the skills and wisdom of Qing Dynasty artisans.

In the virtual space of “Dreaming Back to Yuanmingyuan,” visitors can also engage in a cross-temporal conversation with the digital avatar of Giuseppe Castiglione, Yuanmingyuan’s chief artist and designer, and hear untold stories of the garden’s construction.

Notably, the exhibition integrates recent research from the Yuanmingyuan Administration and the Central Academy of Fine Arts’ Yuanmingyuan Research Center, transforming academic findings into accessible visual narratives to bring scholarship “out of the study.”

The World Skills Museum stated that the exhibition not only highlights Yuanmingyuan’s status as the “pinnacle of Chinese garden art” but also demonstrates how skills serve as a universal language, bridging cultures across time and space. This reflects the contemporary value of historical heritage—not as a preserved relic of the past, but as a living experience where different civilizations can flourish anew.

The exhibition will run until October 12th.

Yuanmingyuan Digital Exhibition: The Craft of Memory

The *Yuanmingyuan Digital Exhibition: The Craft of Memory* explores the history and legacy of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) in Beijing, a grand imperial garden destroyed by British and French forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Using digital reconstructions and multimedia, the exhibition revives the lost architectural and artistic splendor of the site, reflecting on cultural memory and preservation. It serves as both a tribute to China’s heritage and a meditation on the impact of colonialism.

World Skills Museum

The **World Skills Museum**, located in Shanghai, China, is the first museum dedicated to vocational skills and professional education. Opened in 2022, it showcases the history and achievements of the WorldSkills competition, promoting global excellence in skilled trades and technological innovation. The museum features interactive exhibits, historical artifacts, and highlights the importance of vocational training in economic development.

Yuanmingyuan

Yuanmingyuan, also known as the Old Summer Palace, was a vast imperial garden complex in Beijing, China, built during the 18th and early 19th centuries under the Qing Dynasty. It was renowned for its stunning blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, housing numerous palaces, pavilions, and lakes. Tragically, it was looted and destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860, leaving it in ruins as a symbol of China’s historical resilience and colonial oppression.

Yuanmingyuan Craftsmen’s Regulations

The *Yuanmingyuan Craftsmen’s Regulations* (圆明园匠作则例) were a set of detailed guidelines established during the Qing Dynasty to standardize the construction and craftsmanship of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) in Beijing. These regulations outlined materials, techniques, and labor requirements, reflecting the imperial court’s emphasis on precision and grandeur in palace architecture. Though the Yuanmingyuan was largely destroyed in 1860, the regulations remain a valuable historical record of Qing-era craftsmanship and architectural practices.

Yangshi Lei

“Yangshi Lei” (样式雷) refers to the Lei family, a renowned architectural dynasty in China that designed and constructed numerous imperial buildings during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). For over 200 years, the family created masterpieces like the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City’s renovations, and the Eastern Qing Tombs, leaving a lasting legacy in classical Chinese architecture. Their detailed architectural models and drawings are now recognized as UNESCO World Documentary Heritage.

Giuseppe Castiglione

Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766) was an Italian Jesuit missionary and painter who served as a court artist in China under the Qing dynasty emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong. Known by his Chinese name Lang Shining, he blended European techniques with traditional Chinese painting, creating a unique style that influenced imperial art. His most famous works include portraits of the Qianlong Emperor and the *One Hundred Horses* scroll, showcasing his mastery of perspective and detail.

Yuanmingyuan Administration

The Yuanmingyuan Administration oversees the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) in Beijing, a historic imperial garden complex built in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. Once a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design, it was looted and destroyed by British and French forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Today, the ruins serve as a memorial and cultural heritage site, symbolizing both China’s artistic achievements and its historical resilience.

Central Academy of Fine Arts’ Yuanmingyuan Research Center

The Central Academy of Fine Arts’ Yuanmingyuan Research Center is dedicated to studying the historical, artistic, and cultural legacy of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), a former imperial garden destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War. The center focuses on research, preservation, and education, exploring the palace’s architectural and artistic significance while promoting its historical memory. It serves as an academic hub for scholars and artists to engage with Yuanmingyuan’s heritage and its impact on Chinese art and culture.