Northwest China's Shaanxi Province invested 1.3 billion yuan (US$157 million) and launched 10 important projects to protect cultural relics, marking the 20th anniversary of the Law on Cultural Relics Protection.

The projects include renovating the Yellow Emperor's mausoleum, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's palace, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Xiyue Temple and the Banpo Museum, protecting the site of the Daming Palace and constructing the Yangling Mausoleum, the Shaanxi History Museum's Tang Dynasty (618-907) funerary fresco hall, the Forest of Stone Steles Museum and the Famen Temple. All projects are scheduled for completion within the next three to five years.

The cultural relics involved in these projects are famous worldwide. The Yellow Emperor is the grandfather of China and renovation of his mausoleum has attracted worldwide attention. Emperor Qin Shi Huang's palace is the nation's largest ruin park. The building of Hanyuan Hall in the Daming Palace is sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Yangling Mausoleum of Western Han (206BC-25AD) Emperor Liu Qi is the first one of the four cultural scenic sites to be built in the province. The Shaanxi History Museum is China's first modern museum and its fresco hall will be the largest of its kind in the world. The Xiyue Temple is called Xiaogugong (Lesser Palace Museum), a famous scenic spot at the foot of the Huashan Mountain. The Banpo Museum is the country's first relic museum and its exhibition hall will have a new look. The Forest of Stone Steles Museum is the first museum of the province especially dedicated to stone carving exhibit.

China promulgated the Law on Cultural Relics Protection 20 years ago and amended it in 2002. Shaanxi Province will hold other campaigns to enhance the public's awareness and promote the protection of cultural relics.

(china.org.cn by Feng Yikun December 12, 2002)