Nearly 100 million yuan (about 14.7 million U.S. dollars) has been spent on preserving 22 heritage sites in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, including the traditional residence of Panchen Lamas.

Millions spended preserving Tibetan heritage

The amount spent is about 20 percent of the total 570 million earmarked by the central government for Tibet's largest ever cultural preservation program that began in 2008, the regional cultural heritage administration said in a press release Thursday.

Construction workers have replaced moth-eaten posts and repaired cracked walls in more than 20 halls of the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in Xigaze Prefecture, the traditional residence of the Panchen Lamas and the biggest single preservation project, it said.

Around 110 million yuan will go into repairing the 300,000-square-meter Zhaxi Lhunbo, built in 1447. The lamasery houses the world's largest bronze Buddha statue, which is 26.7 meters tall.

Of the total 22 preservation projects, seven are in Xigaze, said Lhaba, chief of the local cultural heritage bureau, who like many Tibetans goes by one name.

One of the places to be repaired is Shalu Monastery, which was built in 1087 and restored in 1333 after the original structure was destroyed in an earthquake.

Last year alone, the preservation projects created more than 27,000 jobs in Xigaze, said Lhaba. "Altogether 8.5 million yuan in wages were paid to local farmers and herders who participated in the repair work."

Besides Xigaze, the government-sponsored heritage preservation program also covers landmark monasteries in Lhasa, including the Jokhang, Ramoqe, Drepung, Sera and some heritage sites in Shannan and Ngari prefectures.

The preservation efforts were financed by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance.

Four sites have already been repaired and most other projects are expected to be completed before the end of this year.

The program was launched after a 330-million-yuan preservation project on the Potala Palace, Sagya Monastery and Norbu Lingka Palace.