Experiencing the scents of history

A total of nine cultural and commercial spaces in the palace have officially opened to the public, including jewelry stores, makeup boutiques, clothing emporia, stationery shops and a bakery.

"The construction of the commercial space of the Summer Palace is based on the premise of the effective protection and rational use of cultural relics and ancient buildings," Du says. "By vacating office buildings and renovating the existing shops, the commercial space of the Summer Palace is built around the cultural and commercial trends of new business formats, trends and experiences, to create a new modern-day vibe. The fresh cultural business model, as well as meeting customer needs, is in line with the positioning of cultural heritage, and the integration of business and culture."

The renovations account for 20 percent of the park's total commercial space. In the next stage, the palace will look to continue upgrading its cultural products and services.

"The decoration of the shops follows the original appearance of the palace and has a unified style. After the renovation, the original wooden frame of the building is revealed, and the 'four-beam and eight-pillar' architectural technique of ancient Chinese structure is presented," Du says.

"The frame and facade of the buildings have become both the main design and the highlights. At the same time, lighting is used for assistance in rendering and embellishing the cultural charm with a sense of style."