At a press conference held yesterday, it was announced that Daming Palace National Heritage Park will open on Friday, October 1.

A press conference is held on September 26 at Daming Palace, Xi'an to announce the opening of Daming Palace.

Two thirds of the park’s scenic spots (around 200 hectares) will open to the public for free. Areas of relic preservation and display will be charged. The ticket price for an adult is 60 yuan. Student ticket and group tickets will be sold, too.

Performance teams from Iran, Italy, Korea, Turkey and Russia will be invited to offer excellent plays during the National Day week-long vacation.

Daming Palace National Heritage Park will be the biggest park in Xi’an after its completion. “After three years of preparation, the park is ready to welcome visitors from all over the world,” said Zhou Bin, chief of the Daming Palace Protection Office.

The renovation project has basically restored the park to its original appearance during the Tang Dynasty and added some modern tourism elements to the park on the basis of cultural relic protection. Walking on the cultural landscape avenue can bring people’s minds back to the Tang Dynasty and let them feel the brilliant culture of the dynasty’s heyday.

The park, covering an area of 3.5 square kilometers, will present itself to the public as a new modern demonstration area after its opening.

The total amount of investment in the park is 12 b yuan, of which 9 b yuan was used for relocation and 3 b yuan for archaeological work, relic preservation and display, and park construction.

“The archaeological work will continue after the opening of the park,” said Sun Fuxi, deputy director general of the Xi’an Administration of Cultural Heritage.

The following is the agenda for the opening event:

1. Sept 29, morning, visiting the palace.

2. Sept 30, morning, “Ancient City Development and Great Ruins Protection Symposium” and opening ceremony on second floor, Danfeng Gate.

3. Sept 30, evening, Daming Palace Cultural Relics Protection Fund Donation Ceremony and Opening Gala

4. Oct 1 to Oct 7, the “Art Festival of the Palace”; with performances invited from groups in Iran, Italy, Korea, Turkey, and Russia, presenting the audiences with colorful performances through different themes.

Oct 1, China theme day – “Glorious China”

Oct 2, Italy theme day – “Roman Holiday”;

Oct 3, Iran theme day – “Persian Experience”

Oct 4, Korea theme day – “Lively Seoul”

Oct 5, Turkey theme day – “Turkish Feast”

Oct 6, Russia theme day – “Russian Impression”

Oct 7, International theme day – “Happy Gather in Palace”

By Dong Jirong and Wang Gongyuan