No Shaolin Here Please!

A post by 中国的另一端 (Winner of China Blog Awards 2007 - Best News Blog) caught my attention this couple of days. Look at the photo nicely cropped out "Mr.Viceroy of Xinjiang". The post is about an archaelogical site in Tuva. Its in regard to what Tuvans will do to an excavation site found near Lake Tere-Khol. Here is what quoted from The Opposite End China:

The site is being excavated and renovated with hopes that it can become a lucrative tourist attraction for a very remote part of Russia populated mostly by ethnic Tuvans. Sergei Shoigu, who is a native Tuvan and holds the fantastic title of Russian Minister for Extraordinary Situations, said:

"We shall build there a Russian Shaolin and invite everybody to come there. And our youth will come I am sure. They will learn philosophy, Tibetan medicine, horseracing, and oriental martial arts in there."

Madness, this is a treasure for the Russians! Not to be used for commercial purpose dude. Imagine the amount of information buried within this fortress. There could be leads to how life is for one of the four brother who ventured out of China since Yuan Dynasty belongs Mr. Khan himself. The fortress itself in the middle of of lake should be something of research value on how such a project is carried out by people of the past, especially to a bunch who ride on horses.

Of course, there are also people perhaps against such ideas, quoted from Tuva-Online:

In Tuva itself an attitude to these great plans is not unanimously positive. Tuvan scientists are afraid of the improper restoration works substituted by new construction. Ordinary people think that the fortress become a visit place of only rich people as not any would be able to afford a air flight to the place.

My Tuvans, if you ever gonna do something, please don't destroy something of such values. Let's put it this way. Its like asking Sharika to dance in thongs and preeching Tibetian Scriptures. You'll be a laughing stock to any cultural heritage organisation out there if its gonna be improvised. No shaolin on this fortress please!