On the familiar green chalkboard, under the skillful hands of Ms. Le Thi Loc Phuong, an art teacher from Tu Ha Primary School No. 1 (Huong Tra Ward), the heritage sites of Hue such as Ngu Phung Pavilion, Thien Mu Pagoda’s bell tower, or the graceful curve of Truong Tien Bridge gradually come to life. Each delicate stroke of white and colored chalk transforms the classroom chalkboard into a lively painting, evoking an image of Hue that is both serene and poetic.

As the old saying goes, “vải Trạng cung Diên, nhãn lồng Phụng Tiên” (Trang Lychees from the Cung Dien area; spathe-wrapped longans from Phung Tien, a former royal garden district). Today, Hue’s longan season still preserves its original sweetness, enticing those passing the ancient citadel to pause and savor the taste.

“Coloring heritage” and “Hue Art Memory Game” featuring traditional Vietnamese motifs from the Nguyen Dynasty are part of the “Heritage education” program for 2024, jointly organized by Hue Monuments Conservation Center and GEKE (German society for the Preservation of cultural heritage). The program is held at Phung Tien Temple in Hue Imperial Citadel and is entirely free for children.

Andrea Teufel, a German conservator-restorer, has dedicated almost 20 years of her life to restoring the heritage buildings of Hue. Among the many relics she has worked on, Phung Tien Temple is the one that she researched extensively and worked hard to restore its architectural beauty.

Once a massive construction in the past, Phung Tien Palace inside Hue Imperial Citadel was completely destroyed after many historical upheavals. Since 2017, the complex of Phung Tien Palace has been gradually restored through a cooperation project between Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany to preserve the remaining structures and revive their original shape and function.

The outdoor exhibition at Phung Tien Palace, Hue Imperial City offered viewers an opportunity to learn about the architecture, spiritual life under the Nguyen Dynasty as well as the cultural, historical and artistic values of this era through virtual reconstruction combined with reality.

The exhibition was organized by Hue Monuments Conservation Center in collaboration with Germany's Society for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Fulda (GEKE) on November 20.