Regular inspections safeguard Zada's remote relics

Monasteries and scattered relics spread out across the high-altitude Zada county in Xizang autonomous region were subject to a two-week inspection in May and June, with prosecutors evaluating their structural condition and fire safety.

Prosecutors visited five townships, checking the preservation of ancient scriptures, Buddhist statues and small clay figures known as "tsha-tshas", as well as electrical wiring, firefighting facilities, cultural relic inventories and management responsibilities.

Tsha-tshas are miniature mold-pressed clay sculptures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or stupas, and are a distinctive form of religious art in Xizang's Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Luo Shuanghong, chief procurator of the Zada County People's Procuratorate, said fire prevention remains a particular concern because many monasteries contain wooden structures and valuable murals and statues. Earlier inspections found problems at several protected sites, including aging firefighting equipment, irregular electrical wiring and blocked fire exits.

No cultural relic-related criminal cases have been reported in Zada since 2025, according to the procuratorate. The recent work has focused increasingly on public-interest litigation, routine inspections and early intervention to prevent damage before it becomes irreversible.

Zada, an important center of the ancient Zhangzhung civilization and the Guge Kingdom, has 189 registered immovable cultural heritage sites, including the Guge ruins, Tholing Monastery and the Piyang-Donggar cave complex.

But protecting them is challenging. Sites are widely scattered across a high-altitude landscape exposed to strong winds, intense sunlight and erosion. Some townships are 75 kilometers from the county seat, while limited staff, funding and professional expertise constrain regular patrols.

The county's current protection system grew in part from a case uncovered in March 2023.

Prosecutors found that several ruins had suffered damage from illegal excavation and had received insufficient subsequent protection. Ancient scriptures and millennium-old tsha-tshas were scattered in the open, while walls were cracked or collapsing.

After an investigation and public hearing, prosecutors issued recommendations to cultural heritage authorities. The county later allocated 440,000 yuan ($61,000) for emergency protection of the local ruins, including structural reinforcement and the collection and storage of more than 100 scattered tsha-tshas and other relics.

The case helped prompt the county to double its annual special fund for cultural heritage protection from 500,000 yuan to 1 million yuan.

Authorities then expanded inspections beyond the two sites, established inventories of outdoor relics and potential risks, and installed fencing and warning signs at key locations. Management agreements were signed with all 252 grassroots cultural relic custodians, with 1.87 million yuan in subsidies distributed to support their work.

Luo said one continuing challenge is that relics scattered across remote areas can take years to move from initial discovery through reporting and formal registration, leaving them vulnerable to weathering, damage or loss.

Responsibilities can also overlap among cultural, natural resources, housing and other departments, making coordination important. Prosecutors now conduct inspections with township officials, police and cultural heritage workers, handling problems on site when possible and referring others to relevant authorities for follow-ups.

Grassroots participation has become a key part of the system.

Tashi Tobgye, Party chief of Tholing community and a former deputy to the Xizang people's congress, said cultural relic protection has improved markedly compared with the past, when theft was more common and daily supervision was weaker.

He participated in the public hearing over the 2023 case and argued that village officials and cultural relic custodians should take greater responsibility for reporting damage and risks.

"With legal support behind our work, protection measures are easier to implement," he said.

He added that public awareness has also increased. Residents who might once have ignored damaged stupas or scattered relics are now more likely to report problems or stop people from removing objects, while younger residents are increasingly involved in heritage protection.

For Tashi Tobgye, protecting the relics is also essential to Zada's future as a tourism destination.

"Tourism cannot develop without history," he said. "If we fail to protect that history today, future generations may no longer have the chance to understand it."