After three years of planning, the district government has appropriated 3.6 million yuan (US$433,735) for the restoration project, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

While the park area will remain the same - some 13,000 square meters - it will have some new features in accordance with the original site.

Essentially, the park will have a pond, a Ming Dynasty-style memorial hall of Xu Guangqi, after whom Xujiahui - a top commercial area in the district - is named, and a round delicately designed area for the five tombs - one for Xu Guangqi and the other for his offsprings.

There will be an 80-meter stone path linking the gate to the tombs, known as the "divine path," along which stone animal sculptures will be installed.

"Shanghai never got 'rich' overnight. It has its own history," said Chen Jingyou, director of the district's office for relics and culture management. "Xu Guangqi is one of the most important persons who contributed a great deal to the country's development."

Born in Shanghai, Xu, also a translator, became a Catholic toward the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was baptized in 1603, taking on the Christian name Paul. He became a high ranking official in 1604 and studied under Matteo Ricci - a famed Italian missionary to China.

He set up astronomy instruments in Beijing in 1610 and established Catholic schools in 1616. In 1625, he resigned from his position, returned to his hometown of Shanghai and wrote the Book of Agriculture. He also translated many of Ricci's books.

(Shanghai Daily June 3, 2003)