China's Chongqing spends big on grotto temple protection

Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality invested about 473 million yuan (about 71.9 million U.S. dollars) in the past five years to protect its ancient grotto temples, including the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Dazu Rock Carvings.

The investment has been poured into a total of 92 projects aimed at conserving the municipality's grotto temples, according to a seminar held on Friday in Chongqing's Dazu District.

The district is home to the renowned Dazu Rock Carvings, a cluster of cliff carvings dating from the 9th to the 13th century.

Bai Yuxuan, with the Chongqing municipal culture and tourism commission, said the protection projects yielded positive results.

Chongqing will step up efforts to use advanced technology to protect grotto temples, strengthen the cultivation of talent in cultural relics protection and deepen cooperation with countries, including Italy, in the restoration and conservation of grotto temples, according to the seminar.

In early November, China's State Council issued a set of guidelines to improve the protection and make better use of the country's grotto temples.