Ancient Glories: Preserving Guge Kingdom ruins in Tibet Autonomous Region

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Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is home to many cultural relics and treasures that date back hundreds of years. And in Ngari prefecture, the massive ruins of one ancient kingdom still exist. CGTN's Natalie Pang heads to Zanda county to take a look at how the Guge Kingdom continues to remain in history books.

Visiting the magnificent ruins of Guge Kingdom is something of an adventure.

It's in the remote far west of the Tibet Autonomous Region, some 3,800 meters above sea level.

Many tourists still make the arduous journey just to see what the fuss is all about.

WU YAN TOURIST FROM HUNAN PROVINCE "I think this place is quite mysterious -- both in its history and its disappearance. I wanted to come here to experience it myself."

The Guge Kingdom was founded in the 10th Century and lasted some 700 years before it was conquered in 1679.

Explorers continue to discover more rooms and caves over time. And most prominent of the ruins today is Tsaparang -- what used to be the capital.

NATALIE PANG NGARI PREFECTURE, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION "Behind me are natural structures - what used to be homes - that date back hundreds of years. And it takes real human effort to preserve what's left of the Guge Kingdom today."

This fortress, perched on a rock rising nearly 200-meters, used to house almost 7-thousand people. The rulers lived right at the top.

But it's not just an empty shell. Beyond some doors lie statues and frescoes -- crumbling and faded, but still telling a story.

The Chinese government has listed the Guge Kingdom as a cultural relic of national importance. It's investing millions of dollars to restore and preserve it.

28-year-old Pasang Tsering has made that his personal mission, too.

PASANG TSERING GUARDIAN OF GUGE KINGDOM "I decided to work here because of a love for this place. I used to major in the art of Thangka. And here, I can see for myself all the stunning artwork. I was attracted to this place because of that."

Most of the time, Pasang is the only one here keeping watch. But for him, that's not a dealbreaker.

PASANG TSERING GUARDIAN OF GUGE KINGDOM "It's lonely here, definitely. The conditions here are simple and crude - we don't even have a teahouse nearby. To others, it may be quite unbearable. But it's been okay for me -- at least I can spend my time drawing here."

With little access to the internet and TV signals, Pasang passes his time by drawing Thangkas - Tibetan Buddhist paintings. And the many scrolls tell how much time and effort he's put into understanding this place.

You could call it a labor of love. For Pasang, it's more than that. He says being able to do what you love is a blessing.

Natalie Pang, CGTN, Tibet Autonomous Region.