Beijing, March 14:

Tibet’s capital plans to build a miniature version of its famed Potala Palace to divert “unbearable” tourist pressure overwhelming the ancient landmark, state media reported on Wednesday.

The mini palace would be built at the foot of the landmark with high-tech sound and lighting effects used to create a “vivid and almost real” version of the orginal palace, said Qin Yizhi, Communist Party chief of Lhasa.

“We are working on a plan for the project and it is predicted to be launched in the second half of this year,” Qin was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying at the annual meeting of parliament in Beijing.