An underground museum displaying frescos, funerary objects and sculptures unearthed from tombs of different feudal dynasties is being built at Jiuquan Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province.

Covering an area of 6.4 square kilometers, the museum is comprised of 27 tombs filled with both imitated and valuable real burial objects excavated from tombs between the Han and Jin dynasties (206 B.C.- 420).

"We want the museum to reflect the prosperity of these two historical periods and highest level of grave building in ancient China," said an official in charge of the project.

The project will cost 10 million yuan (some US$ 1.2 million). When the project is completed in 2001, Jiuquan is expected to attract more visitors with the underground gallery.

The area is also famed for the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang, popularly known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, carved out of the rocks stretching for about 1,600 meters along the eastern side of Mingsha Hill.

Jiuquan Prefecture on the ancient Silk Road has 252 well-preserved ancient tombs dating as far back as the Neolithic Age. Their architecture, shape, interior paintings and folk customs are unique compared with tombs in other parts of China.