The Administration of Yuan Ming Yuan Wednesday commissioned Peking University to conduct pre-feasibility studies to declare the site of the former Summer Palace a World Heritage site.The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year .

Among the large numbers of cultural heritage in China, Yuan Ming Yuan involves more national sentiment in the Chinese people so declaring it a World Heritage site has been debated for years .

The pre-feasibility studies will be done by the World Heritage Research Center of Peking University, analyzing the ruins, evaluating the existing site and park, and surveying the remaining resources and interviews.

Que Weimin, deputy director of the World Heritage Research Center said, "The application is facing many challenges, such as in which category, what to declare, to maintain the status quo or to restore the old."

The former summer palace is located in the eastern part of Haidian District,east of the Summer Palace,Beijing City.

Built in 1709, the palace consisted of three gardens, some featuring European architecture. But in 1860, Anglo-French forces plundered the palace, taking precious objects with them.
   
Now the ruins are kept as a key historical relic under State protection.