Beijing's Palace Museum has responded to online speculation about its new barriers, saying that the marble replacements for the old metal railings are "more suitable" given the surrounding architecture.
Two weeks ago, the metal railings which had protected relics near the Palace Museum's Palace of Benevolent Peace and Gate of Celestial Purity were replaced by new white marble barriers.
The choice of new barriers sparked some discussion online, with netizens speculating as to why museum management had chosen to install ones that are similar to ancient railings in other parts of the Palace, also known as the Forbidden City.