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 (about 40.16 million US dollars).

"Since its founding in 1949, the Chinese government has spent over 600 million yuan (about 72.3 million US dollars) 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 (about 36.1 million US dollars) 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 (about 1.33 million US dollars), 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.