1,616 cultural relics were found during the third systematic surveys of cultural relics in Tibet. Ngari alone reported 70 ancient buildings, caves, stone carvings and modern architectures.

Among the cultural relics, 35 under the state protection level, 112 at regional level and 182 at county level.

The Chinese Central Government has great importance to the protection of cultural relics in Tibet, where enormous cultural relics are housed. In the last two decades of the 20th century, the state has invested more than 300 million yuan to help Tibet renovate and open to the public over 1,400 monasteries. In particular, 55 million yuan and a great amount of gold, silver and other precious materials were invested to renovate the Potala Palace.

In 2002, a special fund of 380 million yuan was apportioned to repair the Potala Palace, the Norbu Lingka and the Sakya Monastery.