www.chinaview.cn 2009-02-11 16:08:34

BEIJING , Feb. 11(Xinhuanet) -- Tibet has launched five projects to protect and renovate the monasteries, according to Cultural Heritage Work Conference in Tibet held Tuesday.

"The projects to renovate Tashilhunpo, Sangkagudu, Changzhub, Xalhu and Kegya monasteries have been in the process of construction since the 11th Five-Year Plan to protect key historical heritages in Tibet began to be implemented last year," said Nyima Tsering, director of the Tibet Culture Bureau.

Another 17 cultural relics such as Tashilhunpo Monastery, Xalhu Monastery, Jokhang Monastery, Ramoche Monastery, Gyangze Anti-British Battle, etc. are included in the 11th Five-Year Plan.

Following the renovation projects costing 330 million yuan for three key cultural heritages, the Potala Palace, Norbu Lingka and Sagya Monastery, China again spent 570 million yuan renovating more Tibetan architectures on such a large scale. The National Development and Reform Commission allocated 280 million yuan and the rest 290 million yuan was alloted by the Ministry of Finance on these projects.

Tibet boasts abundant cultural relics, with more than 2,300 found so far. Since the peaceful liberation of Tibet, especially when the policy of reform and opening-up was initiated, investments from the central and local government have topped 700 million yuan to renovate and reopen about 1,400 monasteries, historic relic sites and the sites of religious activities in Tibet.

"It's the largest in terms of renovation scale and the biggest in terms of investment of one lump sum that China has ever implemented for protection of Tibetan historical relics," said Yu Dawa, director of Tibet Historical Heritage Bureau.

Among the renovation projects that have been launched, the one involving the Tashilunpo Monastery, the residence for generations of Pachan Lama as well as the biggest monastery of the Yellow Sect in Tibet, involves the largest financing at 120 million yuan.