Nepal's Basantapur Tower restored after eight-year project

After eight years of joint efforts, the restoration project of the nine-story Basantapur Tower in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, has recently passed final inspection and been officially handed over to the Nepalese authorities, according to a report by Hebei Daily on Friday.

Designated as a part of the World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley in 1979, the tower suffered severe damage after Nepal was struck by a powerful earthquake in 2015.

In November 2016, the Institute of Cultural Relics and Ancient Architecture Conservation of Hebei Province took on the design and management tasks for the restoration project, while the China Academy of Cultural Heritage undertook the project's construction tasks.

This project marked China's first large-scale cultural heritage assistance project in Nepal. It was also the first national-level foreign aid project in the history of Hebei's ancient architecture restoration, according to Hebei Daily's report.

To fully understand the architectural form and damage to the tower, over 20 experts in ancient architecture from Hebei traveled to Nepal on two trips in December 2016 to conduct on-site surveys.

After arduous on-site investigations, the experts completed a collection of relevant information on the tower and its ancillary buildings, formulating the overall design concept for the restoration project.

In April 2017, related Nepalese authorities officially approved the overall design scheme.

The experts from Hebei have made multiple visits since to review the safety management system, electrical safety plans and fire prevention plans, as well as supervise the safety training of all construction workers, the report said.

Through collective efforts, the temple has been restored to its historical appearance.

A permanent exhibition has been set up at the restoration site to showcase the restoration process and tell the world about the efforts to safeguard the world heritage, the report said.