Potala Palace's ancient documents to get $45m protection fund

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The Chinese government will invest 300 million yuan (44.9 million U.S. dollars) in the next 10 years in its greatest effort to protect and utilize ancient documents in Potala Palace, a World Heritage site in Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

At present, a total of nearly 40,000 books of precious ancient documents in Chinese, Tibetan, Manchu, Mongolian and Sanskrit are preserved in Potala Palace, said the management office of the Potala Palace Monday.

"It is stunning to see so many rare ancient documents distinctive in content, versions and artistic value," said Pedron, an expert from the ancient documents protection center of Tibet.

An aerial photo shows the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, November 15, 2018. /Photo via Xinhua News Agency

Local protection workers will take preventable protection and restoration measures and digitize and put on a show of the precious ancient documents.

Local staff will roll out the digital registration for about 2,800 books in Chinese and Tibetan.

The documents are not only relics but precious historical files that demonstrate and help safeguard a unified China with territorial integrity, said Jorden, vice director of the management office.

Staff members of the Potala Palace work on registration of ancient documents in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, November 16, 2018. /Photo via Xinhua News Agency

"To maintain the diversity of Chinese culture and make it pass on from generation to generation, it is essential for us to protect and make good use of these ancient documents," said Jorden.

The Potala Palace was built by Tibetan King Songtsa Gambo in the seventh century and was expanded in the 17th century, covering an area of 41 hectares atop a craggy hill in the heart of Lhasa. As one of China's top tourist destinations, the palace was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

(Top image: A monk of the Potala Palace arranges documents in Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, November 15, 2018. /Photo via Xinhua News Agency)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency