German and Vietnamese experts from Karcher Company and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center (HMCC) are cleaning up the Noon Gate of Hue Imperial City as part of a series of cultural programs funded by Karcher.
German expert Thorsten Marco Moves from Karcher uses a high-pressure cleaner to clean the Noon Gate’s walls
PHOTO: TAM AN
From now until March 30, German expert Thorsten Marco Moves, who has cleaned up and restored more than 100 relics around the world, and his counterparts use high-pressure cleaners to remove dirt and moss, and kill bacteria on the walls.
According to Phan Thanh Hai, director of the Thua Thien-Hue Department of Culture and Sports, the high-pressure steam is adjusted to keep the original color and conditions of the Noon Gate.
Karcher’s experts will also share their technologies and experiences with HMCC’s experts so that HMCC can continue preserving the relic after the project is finished.
Since 1980, Karcher has helped clean up and restore more than 140 relics across five continents, such as Nihonbashi Bridge in Japan, the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, and Mount Rushmore in the U.S.
The Noon Gate of Hue Imperial City was built by King Minh Mang in 1883. A project of restoring the gate, which costs VND80 billion, has been carried out since 2013 and will be finished in 2020.
The Imperial City is one of the most favorite attractions in Hue. The site attracted nearly one million tourists in the first two months of this year.