LHASA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday officially concluded the reparation of the Potala Palace and Norbu Lingka, or the former winter and summer palaces of the Dalai Lamas.

    The Chinese government has spent nearly 300 million yuan (43.9 million U.S. dollars) in the two projects, along with another 94.74 million yuan in the reparation of the Sagya Monastery, which is known for housing numerous classical books on Buddhism and precious paintings.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong speaks at a ceremony to celebrate the success of the repair work of three key cultural relics, on the public square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 23, 2009.(Xinhua Photo)

    A ceremony was held Sunday on the public square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, to celebrate the success of repair work.

Photo taken on May 2, 2009, shows the exterior of the Potala Palace, Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.  (Xinhua Photo)

    "The reparation of the three key cultural relics is an important part in the conservation of the Tibetan culture," said State Councilor Liu Yandong at the ceremony.

    The Potala Palace, built in the 7th century, is on the world cultural heritage list. Norbu Lingka, which means "treasure park" in the Tibetan language, was the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas.

    The three projects started in 2002 with a combined budget of 330 million yuan.

Xinhua Editor: Lin Zhi

 

Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2009 shows the general view of Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. China on Sunday officially concluded the reparation of three key cultural relics in Tibet, including the Potala Palace and Norbu Lingka, or the former winter and summer palaces of the Dalai Lamas, along with the Sagya Monastery, which is known for housing numerous classical books on Buddhism and precious paintings.(Xinhua/Chogo)        File photo taken in June 2005 shows monks checking a book on Buddhism at the Sagya Monastery, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Soinam Norbu) Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2009 shows the flowers with the background of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. China on Sunday officially concluded the reparation of three key cultural relics (Xinhua/Chogo)   File photo taken in June 2005 shows the general view of Sagya Monastery in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Soinam Norbu)   File photo taken in July 2004 shows part of the newly-renovated Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Soinam Norbu)   Local kids with ethnical masks attend a ceremony to celebrate the success of repair work on the public square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 23, 2009.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)     File photo taken in July 2004 shows workers transport the reparation material in the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Soinam Norbu) People attend a ceremony to celebrate the success of repair work on the public square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) File photo taken in May 2004 shows the general view of Norbu Lingka in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Soinam Norbu)