Tibetannet

A statute, ratified during Tibet People’s Congress session held this March, will be enforced from June 1 of this year, China Tibet News reported.

As the political, economic and cultural center of Tibet undergoing speedy urban-rural integration, Lhasa is faced with mounting conflicts between construction and protection. According to statistics, the Lhasa city is composed of 57 townships, 267 village committees and 1,123 natural villages. Since ancient villages are poorer in living conditions with inconvenient transportation compared with ancient towns, they are not equally valued. In some areas, the styles and layouts of some historical buildings have been destroyed. According to the statute with thirty-four articles in five chapters, ancient villages should be protected by keeping their original layouts, historical styles and the natural landscapes they depend on.

Villagers are encouraged to live in the ancient villages and participate in business activities in cultural and traditional handicraft industries and properly develop tourist industry.

According to the statute, daily maintenance, management and renovation of historical architecture should be taken care of by the owners, who should be given appropriate subsidies by the county government once they suffer from extreme financial difficulties.  Enterprises, government agencies, social organizations as well as individuals are also called on to participate in the endeavor of ancient villages’ protection by way of investment, donation, holding shares, rental and setting up funds.