Araniko

Araniko (real name Balabahu) was a Nepalese architect born in the 13th century AD in Kathmandu Valley. His name's literal meaning in Chinese was `ara` `woman` `niko` `face like`, since he had a face like a woman's (perhaps). Or Aa Ni Ka meaning respectable brother from Nepal (perhaps).
 
He led a group of 80 artisans at the age of 17, crossed the Himalayas and desigened and built many masterpieces in China. His most renowned architecture can still be seen today at the White Stupa of Miaoying Temple in Beijing. Built in 8 years(1271-79), the Stupa better known as White Dagoba was declared historical treasure after the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. Decorated with Ta Sa Thu equivalent of a minister, he is among the few foreigners whose biography can be found in Chinese imperial history books.
More than 700 years ago, Nepal was requested to despatch some 100 fine artists for construction of Golden Stupa and Buddhist temples in Tibet. He carried out his work so well that Pags-pa the emperor's teacher on religious affairs, who was in charge of the construction project there, took him to the emperor in Beijing. Emperor Kublai Khan wanted to test him. Therefore, he asked young Araniko to repair an important bronze idol presented as gift by Song emperor. When Arniko finished, it looked so perfect that he earned the respect of some of the greatest artists in China.

He spread Nepalese architecture not only in various parts of China [Tibet and inner Mongolia included] but also to Indochina, including Malaya, and other areas as well. He was granted special-person status by the Chinese emperor and settled in China, where he lived until his death. The Nepalese government had issued postal stamps in his name to honor him.
In 2008, Anu Raj Joshi translated Satya Mohan Joshi's book on Arniko into English with the new title "The Lasting Gift"(different from the original). This poetic fiction based on the true story of Arniko and the White Dagoba is so simple in language that the translator believes that readers will experience it as if listening to a tourist guide telling a curious story. First printed in Victoria, BC, Canada, this book also tries to give some facts and figures on Nepal and China. Mention of Marco Polo the well known traveler of Italy is also made.
"Arniko and Marco Polo must have met each other in Beijing during the construction of the White Dagoba", hypothesises Satya Mohan Joshi(former Director, Nepal Govt.'s Department of Archaeology &Culture; three times winner, Madan Puruskar literary award; Chancellor, Nepal Bhasa Academy) who spent more than five years in Beijing.
In 2010, in the "World Expo Park of Shanghai" at Expo 2010 Shanghai, which opened on 1 May, 2010, has a "Nepal Araniko Center" in the Highlight 1 section of Nepal Pavilion. Nepal Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai, which opened on 1 May, 2010, has been visited by a record 750,000 visitors. The number of average visitors per day is 25,000 and the number of visitors is more than 40,000 on weekends and holidays. Leading Chinese language online news site placed Nepal Pavilion within the top ten popular expo pavilions