Xi'an, a well-known historical city in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, is seeking capital for a new round of repairing construction in association with the Mausoleum of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), a legendary ruler of the Chinese nation.

The new round of repairing construction requires building a fire-proof shelter for the 80,000 ancient cypress trees around the mausoleum, upgrading the existing diverse cypress courtyards, and building a platform for recording virtues of the donors, said Liu Yunfeng, deputy head of the administration for the Mausoleum of Huangdi.

"When this round of repairing construction is finished, the ancestral mausoleum will form a scenery with perfect functions," said Liu, who placed the cost at 300 million yuan (about US$36.99 million).

According to historical records, the Yellow Emperor unified tribes along the Yellow River Valley 5,000 years ago. He was considered founder of the Chinese nation and culture.

Located on the Qiaoshan Hill in Huangling County, the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor is a popular place for people of Chinese origin from various parts of the world to worship their ancestors.

To cater to the growing needs of worshippers from home and abroad, the Shaanxi provincial government carried out two rounds of renovation projects in the past decade aided in part by 30 million yuan (US$3.7 million) donated by Chinese residing abroad.

Facilities completed thus far include an entrance plaza and a place for holding sacrificial rites, a portrait of Huangdi at the mausoleum, toilets and a station for sewage treatment.  

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)