Construction on the first large Comprehensive Natural Science Museum in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region began Friday in Lhasa, the regional capital.

"Tibet's Natural Science Museum, which is scheduled to open to the public in 2011, will aim to show the rich natural resources along with the unique history and culture in Tibet," said a spokesman for Tibet's Science and Technology Bureau.

The 442.5-million-yuan building will include three large exhibition halls showcasing nature, science and technology, and Tibetan culture and customs.

Located in Tamacun, in the east of Lhasa, the 130,000-square-meter site is by the Lhasa River, close to Tibet University.

Tibet, with an average elevation of 4,000 meters, has 125 unique wild animals and more than 6,400 species of plants.

Tibet's Natural Science Museum would be an educational site for Tibetans and a tourist destination, said the spokesman.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2010)