总投资１０００多万元、预计工期３年完成的大昭寺壁画维修工程于６月正式启动。这是中国首次对世界文化遗产大昭寺室内外所有壁画进行的大规模维修，维修面积达４０００余平方米。位于拉萨老城区八廓街中心的大昭寺，具有１３００多年历史，建筑风格独特，文物价值颇高。１９６１年，大昭寺被国务院公布为第一批全国重点文物保护单位；２０００年，大昭寺被联合国教科文组织列入世界文化遗产布达拉宫扩展项目。

Located on Barkhor Square in central Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is one of the most sacred and important temples in the area. It was included on UNESCO's World Heritage list in the year 2000, and after a two-year renovation of the main structure, the renovation of the murals inside the temple has recently began.
The renovation project, costing 20 million yuan, will see experts restoring four thousand and fifty square meters of frescoes spread through the indoor halls and the outdoor corridors of the Jokhang Temple.
Li Liangqi, deputy director of Bureau of Cultural Relics in Lhasa says, "It's the first time that we conduct fresco repairs on such a large scale since the founding of the People's Republic of China."
Dating back more than 1,300 years, the temple is full of historical relics. These religious frescoes depict the lives of various Buddhas and historical characters and day to day activities.
However, many of them, are in dire need of repair. Time has taken its toll, and some of them are barely visible today.
Guo Hong, director of Fresco repair project of Jokhang Temple says, "In the past centuries, frescoes have been damaged in different ways. Some have cracks and empty swells, some have even come off the wall. So, this renovation is really a piece of work."
Experts explain that the repair work will use materials and binders that pose no harm to the frescoes. The team will draw on its experience repairing murals in the Potala Palace and Sakya Monastery.
Li Liangqi says, "We are doing our best to maintain the original look of the frescoes during the reparations."
But it's a work of patience and dedication. It has just started, and visitors will have to wait three years before being able to rediscover the hidden treasures of the Jokhang Temple.