Tibetan monastery under renovation

　　BEIJING, June 28 -- A renovation project of the Zhaibung Monastery, in southwest China's Tibet, started on Thursday as part of the country's efforts to better protect cultural heritage in the autonomous region.

　　The renovation began with the monastery's facilities for drinking water supply, drainage and firefighting, which will cost 17.39 million yuan (2.54 million U.S. dollars) from regional government, Lhasa city government and monastery funds.

　　The picture taken on May 13, 2009 shows a part of a roof of the Shalu Monastery in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.(Xinhua Photo)

　　"Due to a long history and natural erosion, the ancient buildings of the monastery have problems as wall cracks and damage from moths," said Yudawa, director of the Tibet Regional Cultural Heritage Bureau. "It is very necessary to conduct timely preservation."

　　The Zhaibung Monastery in the western outskirts of the regional capital Lhasa, dates from 1416. Its buildings cover 200,000 square meters.

　　The central government will invest 65 million yuan in the renovation.

　　The monastery remains open to visitors during the renovation. The completion date is unclear.

　　The monastery was closed to visitors after the March 14 riot last year, but it reopened last August.

　　China launched a 570 million yuan (83.4 million dollars) project to preserve 22 historical and cultural relics in the region in April last year. The project, the country's largest protectionist move in the region, will last until 2010. It includes 15 monasteries under state-level protection.