The Monument to the People's Heroes on Tian'anmen Square will undergo a major renovation to patch  up cracks and leaks.

"Leaks have been found in the cellar under the monument and cracks spotted in the basement," said Liu Zhongping, from the Chinese Cultural Heritage Institute, who is in charge of the renovation.

The project will cost about 3 million yuan (US$375,000), reported the Beijing Times newspaper. The report did not say how long it would take to complete the renovation.

But the Beijing Municipal Commission for Development and Reform, which carries a public bidding for the project on its website, said the work will start soon.

The cracks and leaks would have no major effect on the monument; but renovation is needed for maintenance, the Beijing Times reported.

After more than 50 years of weathering, the white marbles of the monument could be easily damaged during renovation, said Liu.

Each marble would be marked, so that they could be put into their original places during the project.

A similar renovation was conducted in 1991. And in September 2004, days before the National Day, minor repairs were done.

Construction of the 37.94-metre monument started in August 1952 as the first structure on Tian'anmen Square after the founding of New China in 1949. It was completed in 1958.

(China Daily December 2, 2005)