The on-going maintenance projects for the Potala Palace, the
Norpu Lingka Palace and the Sakya Monastery, three major historical
sites in the Tibet
Autonomous Region, have cost 333.3 million yuan (US$40.16
million).
"Since its founding in 1949, the Chinese government has spent
over 600 million yuan (US$72.3 million) in the preservation of
Tibetan historical and cultural relics," said Rinqen Cering,
director of the local bureau of cultural heritage.
Before the recent investment of 333.3 million yuan, China had
invested more than 300 million yuan (US$36.1 million) specially for
the protection of the cultural relics of Tibet.
As a result of the early efforts, many famous historical and
cultural relics, such as the Samye Temple, the oldest temple in
Tibet, the Zhaxilkunbo Temple, the temple where the Panchen Lama
lives, the Jokhan Temple and the Shalu Temple, have been
protected.
Tibet boasts more than 2,000 sites of cultural relics, with the
earliest dating from the New Stone Age, of which 27 are under state
protection and 55 are under local protection.
The Potala Palace and the Norpu Lingka Palace are the winter
palace and the summer palace of Dalai Lama, the Buddha incarnate in
Tibet. The Sakya Monastery is renowned for its many sutra
manuscripts.
"As the symbol of Tibet, the three major cultural relics are not
only holy sites for Tibetans, but also a treasure of the Chinese
people," said Gao Qiang, then deputy secretary-general of the State
Council, when he attended a ceremony for the start of the
renovation.
But the passage of time and the changing environment have left
the three major Tibetan historical buildings aged and worn.
Before the start of the maintenance work, a thorough
investigation was made by experts in ancient architecture, geology
and hydraulic engineering, said Rinqen Cering.
The maintenance projects, which will take five years, started in
June 2002. "It is the largest maintenance project with the most
investment in the history of Tibetan ancient architecture
protection and maintenance," said Rinquen Cering.
Qiangzhen, an elderly Tibetan woman, said: "It's lucky for us
disciples that such a large sum of money was invested in the
maintenance of Potala, our Holy Palace."
Rinquen Cering said the completed restoration project in the
Ngari prefecture, which lasted for 3 years and cost about 11
million yuan (US$1.33 million), had received archaeologists'
approval.
"Rare cultural relics of the Ngari prefecture dating 1,300 years
ago including the Guge dynasty remains and the Tuolin Temple, both
famous for their frescos, have been protected," said Rinquen
Cering. "Archaeological investigation has also made at the Dungge
Piyang Grottoes, second only to the famous Dunhuang Grottoes in
western Gansu
Province."
China has also strengthened security measures at Tibetan
cultural relic sites. Except for renewing the fireproofing
equipment of the Potala Palace, the three major temples in Lhasa,
the Gandan Temple, the Daupung Temple and the Sera Temple, have
also been armed with security and fire fighting alarms.
"Moreover, a general investigation of Tibetan cultural relics in
Chamdo, Lhoka and Nyingchi prefectures has been made and all
cultural relics in Tibet have been registered," said Rinquen
Cering.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2003)