Ice festival fires up controversy

Workers make a snow castle at the Old Summer Palace. Todd balazovic / China Daily

An ice festival being held in the grounds of the Old Summer Palace has drawn a mixed reaction from both locals and visitors, with some saying the landmark could be damaged.

The Imperial Ice and Snow Festival, which opened in late December, raised concerns among critics that it detracts from the Old Summer Palace's cultural significance and could even lead to the destruction of relics.

The park, which is also called Yuanmingyuan Park, is housing the ice festival in its southern section.

The Old Summer Palace was built as a summer resort for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was destroyed by British and French forces during the Second Opium War.

"This is a solemn place. This festival detracts from the meaning behind what happened here. It is not the right location for such an event," said a 21-year-old visitor surnamed Cui, who traveled from Qingdao with her sister to see Beijing.

"I cannot think why the park is holding an event like this, other than to make money out of it."

The festival boasts a miniature downhill ski slope, a racetrack for snowmobiles and a towering snow castle, all of which are fashioned from man-made snow.

One elderly local resident said he was concerned that the event would waste Beijing's scarce water resources.

"It's a waste, not only here, but any man-made snow," he said.

The man also said he was worried that the festival would damage the park.

But organizers said they had taken every step possible to avoid damage to the grounds or the relics.

"Everything was worked out closely with the local authorities to make sure the games will not harm anything," said Mico Mimi, a media spokesperson for AoTi, which sponsored the festival.

Mimi said she had heard people had complained but she said they would realize nothing will be damaged if they were to look into the situation more closely.

Chen Mingjie, director of Yuanmingyuan park, said such events are crucial for the area's development. Chen said at a press conference late last week that the public should be more "tolerant".

"I hope the community will hold a more inclusive view of the modern Old Summer Palace," he said."Its effective use is important to help protect the site's cultural heritage."

Chen said he was confused about why the park's entertainment activities often raise heated debates among the public and scholars.

There was a similar outcry when it held a temple fair during the last Spring Festival.

One local woman who visits the park each day said the ice festival offers a way to draw more people to an often overlooked part of the city.

"This area is deserted," she said.

"As long as it makes people interested in the area, it's doing a good service. This park is for the people. That's why it's here."

China Daily

(China Daily 01/11/2011)