China’s first butter sculpture art gallery is under construction in Tibet, and is expected to be put into trial operation in the National Day holidays this year, Xinhua reported.            

As a unique Tibetan art treasure, butter sculpture is world-famous for its vivid image, rich color, high artistic level and distinctive charm.           

Located in the Tibet Cultural Tourism Creative Park, the Butter Sculpture Art Gallery covers a total floor area of around 8,000 square meters, and is built with a total investment of 45 million yuan (6.9 million US dollars).   

According to Ala Tengbu Luge who is in charge of this project, the art gallery was built from the end of 2014, and is expected to be completed in August this year. It will be put into trial operation in the National Day holidays. It is the first art gallery in China aimed at butter sculpture exhibition and inheritance. It will display the historical changes of Tibetan ethnic group, Tibetan Buddhist art, Tibetan folk customs and development achievements of new Tibet. Moreover, an 8-meter-high butter sculpture statute will also be made and be applied for Guinness World Records.   

Butter sculptures must be made at low temperature in winter. Ala Tengbu Luge said they would meet this harsh condition by virtue of high-tech constant temperature equipment. Moreover, advanced preservation equipment will be introduced to extend the preservation time of finished butter sculptures from 15 days to over eight months, the maximum duration for butter sculptures to be preserved at present.      

In addition, recorded guide equipment will also be installed in the new art gallery to help visitors understand the profound cultural connotations of the butter sculpture art aside from enjoying its beauty.