China will spend approximately 30 million yuan (about US$3.75 million) this year on overhauling imposing Potala Palace, the 1,300-year-old winter palace of the Dalai Lama, officials have said.

China also plans to spend more than 16 million yuan (US$2 million) to repair Norbu Linkag, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, and over 33 million yuan (some US$4.1 million) on Sakya Monastery where numerous rare religious relics are kept.

The three major sites are listed for large-scale overhauls that began in June 2002, with funds of 330 million yuan (US$40.69 million) from the state coffers.

Part of the reparation in the Potala Palace will conclude before May Day, the start of a peak period for tourism in China, or July 1 when the test run of the Qinghai-Tibet railway was launched, said Ding Changzheng, deputy director with the administration for Potala Palace.

Ma Yigang, chief of the administration for Norbu Linkag, said the main tasks to be completed this year would be mostly public facilities such as the drainage system, fire control and security facilities.

Situated on the western outskirts of Lhasa, Norbu Linkag was built in the mid 18th century and served as the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. It was the place where they handled political affairs, practiced religious activities and spent their holidays.

Both the Potala Palace and Norbu Linkag have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The emphasis in the reparation of Sakya Monastery is placed on the main hall this year, engineers said.

The repairs on the three cultural relic sites are expected to be finished this year.

China Daily