Authorities in the capital of
Shaanxi Province, northwest China, have pledged financial aid
to rescue the Town God's Temple, a group of buildings with a
history of 560 years in Xi'an's Lianhu District.
The local government has earmarked 600 million yuan (US$72.3
million) to preserve the temple and develop properties in the
vicinity in the same architectural style.
In
ancient Chinese society, a temple was built to worship the god of
each town, to whom people prayed for the residents' safety and
happiness. Such temples were more secular than religious, as they
were often used for social occasions and staging fairs, at which
traders and craftsmen gathered.
Built in 1433 and embracing a main hall decorated with exquisite
carvings and a magnificent theater, the Town God's Temple in Xi'an
was listed as a national preservation priority in 2001.
However, the ancient buildings have long been occupied by small
business warehouses and a department store, which are believed to
pose a danger to the site of historical interest and to the
reputation of Xi'an, which boasts many tourist attractions.
Experts maintain that it is imperative to move peddlers out of the
temple as soon as possible.
According to local government officials, the temple preservation
project is high on the municipal development agenda of Xi'an.
A
city internationally famous for its tourist attractions, including
the Terra-cotta
Warriors, Xi'an has 314 historical sites listed as preservation
priorities and more than 120,000 unearthed relics.
(Xinhua News
Agency September 10, 2002)