Xinjiang makes huge investment to protect cultural relics along the Silk Road
People's Daily, February 2, 2009
Xinjiang, China -- The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has invested 80 million yuan for the conservation of important cultural relics along the Xinjiang portion of the Silk Road. Conservation projects have been launched on a full scale along the Silk Road in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Turpan, Aksu, Kashgar and Hotan.
According to Liang Tao, a senior engineer and the executive deputy director of the leading group office of the Important Cultural Relics Conservation Project in Xinjiang, plans including the renovation and protection of Jiaohe Ancient City and the Kizir Thousand Buddha Caves are proceeding smoothly.
The first phase of the project to refortify Jiaohe Ancient City against damage has already been completed and has passed examination, while work on flood prevention and the security system has entered the trial operation stage.
The first and second phases of the conservation project in Gaochang Ancient City were implemented simultaneously and are basically completed. Emergency refortification has also been adopted for the Buddhist pagodas in Niya and Andir, as well as for the Rewake Buddhist Temple. Meanwhile, cultural relic information collection in the desert area of the Marzartag Mountains is also basically finished.