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Published : December 09,2024
People gather outside the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in the rain in Paris, France, Dec. 7, 2024. Five years after being devastated by a fire, the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral officially reopened on Saturday with a grand inauguration ceremony attended by world leaders, believers, and non-believers alike. Photo: Xinhua
The restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral officially reopened on Saturday with a grand inauguration ceremony after being devastated by a fire five years ago as China was the first country to participate in the restoration.
The ceremony began with a tribute film, honoring all those who have played a role in the rescue and restoration of Notre-Dame. “Thank You” was projected in multiple languages on the cathedral’s iconic facade.
Following the catastrophic fire on April 15, 2019, China was the first country to sign an intergovernmental agreement with France for the restoration of the cathedral, enabling Chinese experts to contribute to the restoration project.
According to CCTV News, the five-year restoration involved more than 2,000 craftsmen and experts, with a total cost of nearly 700 million euros.
In February of 2024, Emperor Qinshihuang’sMausoleum Site Museum in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province sent specialists to Paris to assist with the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame. China and France have jointly initiated scientific research on the preservation of wooden relics and earthen sites from both Notre-Dame and the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang, marking the first instance of international collaboration on studying charred wood samples from Notre-Dame.
Zhou Ping, a deputy director of the Chinese museum, told Phoenix TV that Chinese experts were the first non-French professional team to ascend the spire of Notre-Dame.
In February 2023, Zhou was appointed to participate in the cathedral’s restoration. During the restoration, she contributed China’s expertise in cultural relic preservation, including marble cleaning, research on charred wood, and conservation techniques for murals, metals and related artifacts.
Zhou noted that both Notre-Dame and the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuang extensively used wooden materials, both of which have charred remains. By studying these burned wood or charcoal relics, the Chinese and French teams advanced research on fire-resistant materials, aiming to extend the time cultural relics can withstand fire and enhance rescue efforts.
People gather outside the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in the rain in Paris, France, Dec. 7, 2024. Five years after being devastated by a fire, the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral officially reopened on Saturday with a grand inauguration ceremony attended by world leaders, believers, and non-believers alike. Photo: Xinhua
This photo taken on Dec. 7, 2024 shows the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral during a grand inauguration ceremony in Paris, France. Five years after being devastated by a fire, the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral officially reopened on Saturday with a grand inauguration ceremony attended by world leaders, believers, and non-believers alike. Photo: Xinhua
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