The government of Tianshui city innorthwest China's Gansu Province has decided to fund the protection of its ancient residential buildings.

The city boasts 161 ancient residential courtyards which date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), many of which belonged to eminent families of the two dynasties. The local government surveyed these ancient buildings in April and found that 38 of them need repair and protection.

Local officials said that the city had made a detailed plan forthe protection project and will invest 900,000 yuan (about 108,400US dollars) for the protection and management of the buildings.

These ancient brick-and-wood buildings are helpful to researchers in architecture, history and folklore, experts said.

Source: Xinhua