In an extraordinary fusion of art and history, 28-year-old Qingdao artist Fan Sumu has rebuilt the Hall of National Peace—a lost treasure of Beijing’s Old Summer Palace—using 1,860 chocolate bars. Six months of painstaking craftsmanship have yielded more than a replica; her edible masterpiece breathes new life into the past, inviting a delicious conversation with history.  

Her chocolate rendition dazzles with a glazed blue roof, meticulously carved eaves, and twelve gilded zodiac animal heads—each detail a testament to China’s cultural splendor. Fan’s work reflects a bold movement among young creators: reimagining heritage through unexpected mediums.  

Once a dessert blogger, Fan has crafted sugary tributes to landmarks like the Forbidden City, but this project is her most ambitious yet. Guided by 328 precise measurements, she scaled every element from the surviving zodiac heads, blending artistry with archival rigor.  

Yet her vision goes beyond replication. To honor four missing zodiac heads, she gilded their chocolate counterparts—a poignant artistic statement to spotlight their absence and kindle hope for their return. Through melted cocoa and gold leaf, Fan doesn’t just restore a hall; she reignites its story.