Search China Travel News:

Tibet launched a reconstruction project recently, aiming to redevelop some 70,000 square meters of dilapidated housing over the next two years.

Upon the completion of the project, Tibet will finally accomplish its two-decade endeavor of upgrading the run-down urban houses in its capital city, Lhasa.

The latest project will cost 70 million yuan (over 8.4 million U.S. dollars), and 56 residential compounds, built in the early 20th century, are expected to take on a new look with better living conditions for 1,096 households.

These housing courtyards, located in the city's old urban area,covering one square kilometer with a large number of ancient Tibetan buildings, will conserve the original Tibetan architectural characteristics, according to officials in charge of the project.

Since 1979, Tibet has earmarked 264 million yuan (31.8 million U.S. dollars) to renovate 227 old residential courtyards, covering 480,000 square meters, and 8,671 local households have moved to better apartments so far.

Local sources said that over 90 percent of the houses in Lhasa's old urban area were on the verge of collapse.