China is renovating the tomb compound of Genghis Khan, expanding it from merely 0.55 square kilometers to 80 square kilometers to create a panoramic view of the Mongolian emperor's lifetime and promote local tourism.

The expansion of the tomb compound, in Ordos City in the west of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will cost a total investment of 200 million yuan (US$24 million), and the first phase of construction will finish before the end of the year.

According to the Inner Mongolian Donglian Group, investor of the project, major buildings have been so far basically completed, including a 2,000-sq-m yurt, the Genghis Khan center square, and sculptures of Genghis Khan and his warriors.

The Asian-European Square and a Mongolian history and culture museum are still under construction, according to Hou Yushe, president of the Donglian Group. He said the second phase of construction will include a fire balloon club, a Mongolian folk- custom village and a spring scenic spot in the tomb area.

Qian Shimin, director of the administration committee of the Genghis Khan tomb area, said the tomb area is not only a sacred place for Mongolians to pay tribute to Genghis Khan, but is also becoming a unique tourist attraction with beautiful grassland scenery and Mongolian folk culture.

China is renovating the tomb compound of Genghis Khan, expanding it from merely 0.55 square kilometers to 80 square kilometers to create a panoramic view of the Mongolian emperor's lifetime and promote local tourism.

The expansion of the tomb compound, in Ordos City in the west of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will cost a total investment of 200 million yuan (US$24 million), and the first phase of construction will finish before the end of the year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2003)