XINING: Repair work on Taer Monastery, one of the six best-known monasteries of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, was launched on Thursday, the third such initiative since 1992.

Maintenance and restoration of two major buildings in the 400-year-old monastery in the northwestern province of Qinghai will be completed next year. However, when to launch the second stage - to repair two other key constructions - will depend on the progress of the current work, according to an official with the project's administration office.

A four-year, large-scale repair plan for the monastery was launched in 1992 at a cost of 37 million yuan ($5.3 million). The second project was launched in 2001 on a main palace, involving more than 30 million yuan.

The central government is spending 25 million yuan on the latest repairs.

Zungkang, a living Buddha in charge of the monastery's administration, said: "On behalf of all living Buddhas and Buddhists, I want to express gratitude for the efforts that the Party and the government have made in protecting religious and national cultural heritage."

Construction of the monastery, which is located 27 km south of the provincial capital Xining, began in 1560 to honor Tson-Khapa, founder of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and also the mentor of the 1st Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama. It is noted for the architectural brilliance of its halls and rooms, and about 20,000 religious paintings, appliques and yak butter sculptures.

Over the past four centuries, the monastery has suffered damaged as a result of fires, earthquakes, landslides and subsidence.

Editor: Carolyn