With the implementation of the security protection regulation for medium-and-small sized grottos in northwest China's Gansu Province, six cultural relics protection units including Dunhuang Research Institute will receive 2.6 million yuan (about US$ 313,250 to protect grottos within the province.

Famed for its grottos, Gansu has over 160 different kinds of grotto sites, including 40 world famous ones such as Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui city.

Because of lack of funds, medium- and small-sized grottoes in Gansu have had security problems in the past and there was a run of grotto relics thefts in Gansu last year.

This year the Gansu Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics began inspecting medium- and small-sized grottoes and installing security equipment in them.

Gansu will make a thorough security check of all the grottoes in the province.

( China Daily February 25, 2002)