Visitors to the Potala Palace, a UNESCO world heritage site in Lhasa, will no longer have access to its golden roofs when the ongoing renovation project completes next year.

The ban is aimed at better preservation so that "we can pass on the Potala Palace as it is to our future generations", said Qamba Gesang, director of the Potala Palace Administration. "It doesn't mean the buildings are crumbling -- far from it."

The seven golden roofs atop the stunning red-and-white palace against Tibet's eternal blue sky is a must-see for worldwide pilgrims and sightseers alike.

The hundred-square-meter platform atop the palace was forever crowded with tourists, posing threat to the centuries-old buildings, and the narrow, creaky staircase leading to the golden roofs also warns the rushing crowds of hidden danger.

"It's quite reasonable to exercise the ban," said Legxe, a 65-year-old monk at Potala Palace. "After all, the rebuilt palace is more than 350 years old. Just like an old man, it needs more care and protection."

"The renovation project has reinforced the Potala Palace," said Dawa Baizhoin, a worker from Shannan Prefecture working on the roofs of the palace more than 110 meters tall. "It's a pity indeed that visitors won't be able to mount the roofs any more, but I think this is good for the long-term 'health' of the palace."

The Potala Palace administration has limited the number of visitors and pilgrims to the palace to 1,600 a day since May 1, 2003. But still, the number of visitors reached a record 443,000 between January and October this year.

"Even with the golden roofs and a few ramshackle halls closed, visitors still have a lot to see at the Potala Palace," said Qamba Gesang.

The palace presently opens 22 halls to visitors and pilgrims, the oldest of which is more than 1,300 years old. The palace administration also plans to build a showroom down the hill in the near future for the convenience of the elderly and handicapped visitors.

"The Potala Palace is one of the most appealing tourist destinations in China, with the unparalleled sight of its golden roofs against the blue sky and snow-covered mountains," said Jesus Sobrino, a tourist from Spain. "We can only enjoy the sight at a distance in the future, but I think people will all understand and respect the Chinese government's efforts to preserve traditional Tibetan culture."

The Potala Palace, located in the northwestern corner of Tibet's regional capital Lhasa, was first built by Tibetan King Songtsa Gambo in the 7th century and expanded during the 17th century.

The palace features the essence of ancient Tibetan architectural art and was included into the list of world cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994.

The Chinese government spent 55 million yuan (6.6 million US dollars) repairing the palace between 1989 and 1994. The second phase of the repair work, involving 180 million yuan (22 million US dollars), started in 2002 and will last for five years.

Xinhua