The Chinese government is investing 45 million yuan (about US$5.4 million) to protect the largest group of mausoleums of ancient Tibetan kings, located in Khyonggyal County in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Covering a total area of 385 sq m, the nine mausoleums are the last resting places of the 29th to 40th (and last) Tibetan kings, their wives and senior officials of the Tubo Kingdom (700-900).

Among these mausoleums is that of Songtsan Gambo, the most famous Tibetan king because of his epoch-making marriage with Princess Wencheng of the early Tang Dynasty (618-907) when Tibet was a dependency under the jurisdiction of the dynasty.

According to Puncog-Wangdue, head of the county, the projects for the tomb's protection have already been launched, and a planned road running through the area has been re-routed so as to preserve the harmony of the scenery.

In addition, a 2.4-km-long embankment has been built to prevent the nearby Khyonggyal River causing any damage to the site.

The head said the surface of the tomb mounds, built of clay and rocks, have been badly damaged by weather erosion over the centuries.

Archaeological work is now under way in the mausoleums area, and the overall protection program will be launched after this work is completed within one year.

Puncog-Wangdue said that the maintenance and protection of the mausoleums will help boost local tourism, and the county is considering a tourism development plan which will pose no threat to the historical sites.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2003)