China has just completed renovation of the ruins of the ancient Kingdom of Kroraina (Loulan), which locals call "China's Pompeii in the desert," comparing it to the Italian town buried under volcanic ash nearly 2,000 years ago.

The ancient kingdom is located on the eastern tip of the Taklimakan Desert in the southern part of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. According to historical records, it used to be a famous booming city at the juncture of the southern and northern routes of the ancient Silk Road some 2,000 years ago. Because of diminishing water resources, the city was gradually ruined and abandoned.

This was the first renovation of the 2,000-year-old city since it was discovered by a Swedish archeologist in 1900, and the work was based on careful researches conducted last year which led to a thorough repair plan.

The project took about 20 days to complete and cost 400,000 yuan (48,000 US dollars), said Wang Jinhua, a senior engineer in charge of the renovation.

"We have achieved the designed effect to create something " solid in structure and primitive in looks," he added.

Major structures under repair included a Buddhist pagoda made of adobe and wood and a relic known as the "Three Houses," a symbol of the Kingdom of Kroraina. These served as the sacrificial altar and residential area of administrative officials in ancient times.

The ancient city walls of Kroraina are an example of the Peacock River culture, which boasts a history of at least 4,700 years. Beaten by high winds and sandstorms for centuries, the foundation of the "Three Houses" was eroded.

The roof of the 10.4-meter-high pagoda, the largest Kroraina building, was cracked and caved in and its wood rotted.

An engineering team of more than 20 builders from Beijing and Xinjiang repaired the pagoda and the "Three Houses" using the adobe sun-dried mud bricks. In an effort to prevent water from permeating the structure, workers dug earth and made the bricks at a place some two kilometers from Kroraina.

"This renovation project sets an example for the repair of ancient cities in the desert, and the experience gained will be useful in renovating 20 more historical sites in the depth of vast desert of Xinjiang," said Yue Feng, an archeologist at the Xinjiang Cultural Relics Administration. (Xinhua)