The earthen tower at Zhangye Dafo Temple in Northwest China's Gansu province. [Photo by Yang Xiaoyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

Due to their advanced age, the buildings, sculptures and murals in the temple have suffered varying degrees of damage, and have been repaired many times in history, according to Wang Kang, director of the Cultural Relics Research Institute of the Zhangye Dafo Temple.

"From 2005 to 2007, we thoroughly repaired the temple following the principle of 'repairing the old as it is'," Wang recalled.