More than 600 years ago, a skilled Tibetan architect journeyed to Lhasa to pay tribute to the Buddha.

As the legend goes, when he saw the magnificent Potala Palace, he decided to accomplish the same architectural wonder in his hometown of Xigaze, which is located some 250 kilometers from Tibet's capital Lhasa.

"He carved the design of the Potala Palace onto a turnip but the turnip shrank as he trekked home. A replica of Potala Palace was built but on a smaller scale," said Tashi Namgyai, 74, who lives in Xigaze.

What the local Tibetans call the mini-Potala is Sangtsu Tsezung Palace.

"The Sangtsu Tsezung Palace and the Tashilhunbo Monastery, the traditional palace residence of Panchen Lama, were the most magnificent buildings in Xigaze when we were children," said Cering. The 73-year-old Tibetan woman lives nearby Sangtsu Tsezung Palace.

Early this month, work has started on the site to restore a series of buildings at Sangtsu Tsezung Palace, the oldest building complex in Xigaze.

Sangtsu Tsezung Palace is little-known to people outside of Tibet but a household name in the snow-covered area in Southwest China.

Built in 1363, the main structure of the palace is more than 120 meters tall and looks similar to the famous Potala Palace in Lhasa, thus earning the nickname "Mini-Potala Palace."

The palace fell into disrepair and is now on the verge of collapse. Most of the contents have been removed, but the palace foundation is still solid.

The renovation project is being sponsored by Shanghai municipal government, which is putting up 40 million yuan (US$5 million).

The Architecture School of Shanghai Tongji University has undertaken the project.

When it is completed in May 2007, the castle-like structure will have 7,500 square metres of floor space, said Qoi'gyi Gyaincain, an architect and living Buddha with the Tibet Autonomous Regional Architecture Prospecting and Design Institute.

For hundreds of years, the palace was a place of government and worship for the elite of Tibetan society.

"Common Tibetans were not allowed to go up there. The basement of the palace contains cells for prisoners," Cering recalled.

"In the old days, parents often frightened children by threatening to send them there if they did not behave themselves."

Sangtsu Tsezung Palace is an excellent example of Tibetan architecture technique which some believe is even better than the famous Potala Palace which was built about 700 years earlier, said Qoi'gyi Gyaincain.

The original Potala Palace in Lhasa was built in the 7th century but was destroyed by fire after it was hit by lightning.

The Potala Palace was rebuilt about 300 years ago by the 5th Dalai Lama, which makes Xigaze's Sangtsu Tsezung Palace 330 years older than the rebuilt Potala Palace.

"We feel in our hearts that like Potala Palace, Sangtsu Tsezung Palace is a sacred and magnificent building," said Tashi Namgyai.

From the 14th century to the 15th century, Tibet set up 13 administrative centers throughout the region and erected a building in each centre for both religious and administrative purposes.

Sangtsu Tsezung Palace was the last and largest of the 13 administrative centers to be built and therefore benefited from the skills of many experienced craftspeople.

The restorers will examine the remains of the palace to better understand Tibetan architecture techniques.

Archival photographs and records will help architects duplicate the palace's original appearance, said Hai Shuanglin, an architect in charge of the project from Tongji University.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2005)