The government of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is to spend 1.234 billion yuan (196 million U.S. dollars) to protect its old urban area.

The facelift project was launched on Thursday and is expected to be completed by July 2013, according to a press conference organized by the Lhasa municipal government on the same day.

The project includes renovation of water supply and drainage, power lines, pipelines, street lamps and construction of heating facilities.

The appearance of cultural relics, including the World Cultural Heritage Jokhang Temple, will be kept the same. At the same time, nearby fire hazards will be removed, said Chimed Tsering, deputy head of the Chengguan District government.

The old urban area of Lhasa covers an area of 1.33 square km. It has a population of 80,000.

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