A sculptural copy of the Throne Hall of the Imperial Palace of Shenyang was brought to Irkutsk, an expensive gift from Chinese sister city partners, now placed in the foyer of the House of Europe. It will later be part of a sister cities mini park, where places are being prepared for symbols of other friendly cities. The project, conceived in 2007, is meant to gather signs of international friendship in one space, and Irkutsk first symbol there should be the Babr.

To be more precise, it is its sculptural copy. It was brought to our city the day before yesterday. For now, it has been installed in the foyer of the House of Europe. Later, a park of sister cities is planned to be created on the grounds of this museum complex.
A gift for the people of Irkutsk. As the head of the Chinese delegation will comment a little later, this is the most expensive present in the history of sister-city relations between Shenyang and anyone. Yang Yazhou also said that he personally made the final decision on which object from his hometown to choose as a symbol. On the other hand, there was no need to think twice. The Throne Hall of the Imperial Palace is one of Shenyang’s main attractions. The sculpture, made of an alloy of copper, brass, and bronze, weighs 137 kilograms. It consists of 48 parts. Its author is Shi Hongxian, whose works can be found in different countries around the world. And now in Russia. "The Chinese people attach great importance to friendship. Three years ago your country gave us the Russia Park. And today we give you the symbol of the city of Shenyang. We call the Throne Hall of the Imperial Palace a sculpture of high politics. Before being sent to Irkutsk, it stood in the center of the Shenyang city hall. We hope that the people of Irkutsk will love it," said Yang Yazhou, deputy mayor of Shenyang.
Siberians may also come to love sculptures from other sister cities. In addition to Chinese Shenyang, Irkutsk has such ties with Kanazawa in Japan, Eugene in the United States, and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. Here, on the grounds of the House of Europe, where a mini-park is planned, space has been prepared for at least eight sculptures.
The sites in this park, the project authors explain, are also reserved for Irkutsk’s partner cities. These are Ukrainian Simferopol, German Pforzheim, and the Swedish municipality of Strömsund. Finally, cooperation agreements have been concluded with the Italian province of Pordenone and the department of Haute-Savoie in France. Work with them, the mayor’s office explains, is in full swing. The "first swallow" was Japanese. "This bronze sign came to us from Kanazawa last year and will be installed in the mini-park of sister cities. In Pforzheim, for example, a competition was announced to create the best symbol of their city. And as of today, it is ready to be sent to Irkutsk," noted Tatyana Korotkevich, deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation of the Irkutsk city administration.
The idea of a sister-city park began to be developed back in 2007. Presenting the project to the people of Shenyang, Irkutsk’s chief architect said: the central place will be occupied by the symbol of the capital of the Angara region - the Babr, holding a sable in its jaws. Other figures are also possible. "At present, a design proposal is being developed - the Symbol of Peace, symbolizing our land, the globe. In addition, in the event of new friendly relations, the mini-park of sister cities has the possibility of increasing the number of niches to 14-16," says Andrey Krasilnikov, head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Irkutsk city administration.
When will the sister-city park be ready to receive visitors? Not before 2010, say the mayor’s office. However, the next gift is expected very soon. From Haute-Savoie. The French delegation will present its symbol to the people of Irkutsk literally in the next few days.