Penglai Park, complete with old pavilions and ancient relics, reopens on May 31 to the public in Huangpu District after one-year restoration that cost about 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million). Admission is free.

The restored, enlarged park features seven traditional pavilions, including two newly built in the old style. It also has ancient stone carvings from Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

"We have dozens of carved stone relics in the park, which were collected in the 1970s by the gardeners from the suburbs of Shanghai and Jiangsu Province," said Zhang Bolun, a park employee.

Five pavilions, among which the Qingshang Pavilion, were first erected during the Qing Dynasty. Two new pavilions were added.

Built in 1953, the park was once enjoyed by neighborhood residents. But it fell into disrepair over 50 years.

It was seriously damaged during Typhoon Matsa last summer and forced to close. The park has been enlarged from 27,000 square meters to 35,000 square meters during the restoration.

(Shanghai Daily June 5, 2006)