The Chinese government is set to raise funds to repair, improve and preserve old wooden buildings, mostly in China’s northern province of Shanxi, through a five-year renovation plan following President Xi Jinping’s call to revive old industrial structures in the northern part of the country.
Shanxi Province local officials said on March 9, Monday, that they will raise funds to repair and preserve old wooden architecture between 2015 and 2020.
Wang Jianwu, head of Shanxi's cultural relics department, said that they intend to raise a total of 1.5 billion yuan (approximately $240 million) from state and provincial funds.
The official said that 235 wooden buildings under state and provincial protection are set for renovation. They may also include buildings under municipal and county-level supervision, which were built before the Yuan Dynasty (A.D. 1271-1368).
There are more than 28,000 excavated ancient structures in Shanxi that require urgent building repair and maintenance, but improvements were delayed due to shortage of funds.
Many of Shanxi's ancient buildings have been seriously damaged by human and natural causes and badly needed renovation and improvement.
In related development, President Xi Jinping has also called on Monday to upgrade old industrial structures in the country's northern region.
Xi made the call in view of the government's thrust to provide new engines for growth and development in the region's old industrial base.
He said that emerging industries in the region should adopt development based on innovations. He also urged for substantial reforms that would bring vitality to the country's manufacturing base.