Work started Wednesday at a thousand-year-old monastery in Tibet's Xigaze Prefecture to renovate the structure that is a rare blend of Tibetan and Chinese architectural styles.

Inauguration for the reparation of the Shalu Monastery in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is held May 13, 2009. More than 16 million RMB yuan will be put on the reparation of the old monastery, which was built in 1027. [Xinhua]

Renovation of the Shalu Monastery, about 20 km from Xigaze City, would cost 16 million yuan (2.3 million US dollars) and take about two years, said Soinam Norbu, an official with the prefectural government.

The project, one of Tibet's biggest heritage renovation projects under the 11th Five Year Plan (2006-2010), involves reinforcement of its buildings, maintenance of sewage treatment facilities and improvement of fire and flood control systems, he said.

"Pilgrims and tourists will not be banned during the renovation," he said.

Shalu Monastery made about 700,000 yuan a year, mostly from ticket revenues and alms offered by pilgrims, said Losel Gyatso, an official in charge of religious affairs.

The monastery was first built in 1027, but was destroyed in an earthquake. The existing structure was rebuilt in 1333 with money and building materials provided by the imperial court. Its abbot, Buton, also invited craftsmen from other Chinese areas to help rebuild the monastery.

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. The reparation of the monastery was started on Wednesday. It is planned that more than 16 million RMB yuan will be put on the reparation of the old monastery, which was built in 1027. [Xinhua]

"The structure therefore combines traditional Chinese and Tibetan styles," said Minyak Chokyi Gyaltsen, a renowned Tibetan architect.

The first floor of its main hall Shalu Lakhang followed Tibetan styles, but its second floor was built into a traditional Chinese quadrangle with houses on four sides. Glazed tiles, rarely seen in Tibetan buildings, were used on its roof, he said.

Last year, the central government launched a 570-million-yuan (81.43 million US dollars) project to preserve 22 historical and cultural heritage sites in Tibet, including the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the Jokhang, Ramogia, Sanyai and Samgya-Goutog monasteries.

The move came after a 330-million-yuan preservation project on the Potala Palace, Sagya Monastery and Norbu Lingka Palace.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2009)