Tibet is no exception. The Third National Relic Census is underway across the country. Linzhou County in Tibet was used as a trial. The relic survey was initiated there in September 2007 and has made remarkable achievements through March 2008. In an area of 4,512 sq meters, 211 relic sites have been discovered, including 66 ancient sites, 78 tombs, 45 archeological buildings, 9 grottoes and rock carvings and 13 historic sites and buildings in modern China. The regions in Tibet including Nyingchi, Chamdo, the eastern and central part of Nakchu will be the focus of the relic survey in 2008. The western and northern part of Nakchu, Ngari and Shigatse will be the focus in 2009. Lhasa and Shannan Lhoka will the focus in 2010.

Shan Jixiang, the Director of State Administration of Cultural Heritage, believes that the census will contribute a lot to the cultural heritage protection in Tibet.

Renovation projects in Tibet

The central government and the regional government of Tibet have always focused their efforts on cultural relic protection in Tibet. The central government has allocated 330 million yuan to renovating the Potala Palace, Norbulingka and Sakia Temple. The renovation work started in June 2002.

The renovation work on the Patala Palace is near completion, and Norbulingka, the world’s highest palace, has also been under renovation for years. The local government has also invested some 140 million yuan to renovate its surrounding areas. The Sakia Temple, one of the most important temples in Tibet, has also been renovated.

In addition to the Potala Palace, Norbulingka and Sakia Temple, nine more historical sites in Tibet have been listed as the key renovation projects during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010). They include Samye Temple and Trandruk Temple, Tashilumpo and Schalu Kloster, Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, Site of the Anti-British War at Zongshan Mountain in Gyantse and Naining Temple, Namseling Manor and Lajiali Palace Site, Guge Site, Segegutuo Temple and Kejia Temple.