Western Qing Tombs start major repairs

Baoding (CNS) -- After the opening ceremony for the overall repair project of the Western Qing Tombs held on March 23, a team specializing in the renovation of ancient architecture was stationed on the site. The repair work eventually got underway on March 28.

 The project will need capitalization of 690 million yuan. At present, a fund of 20.8 million yuan is in place.

 The tombs are a precious and irreplaceable heritage left by our ancestors, was the sentiment expressed by Tong Mingkang, deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and the repair work is necessary in his opinion if we expect to preserve them in a good state for our descendants.

 The Western Qing Tombs It lies at the foot of Yongning Mountain in the north, about 15 km west of Yixian County. The necropolis consists of four royal mausoleums where 78 royal family members are buried, including four emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and their empresses, imperial concubines, princes and princesses, as well as servants of the royal household.

 The Western Qing Tombs made the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.