HOHHOT, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The delayed renovation plan to rescue a 1,000-year-old leaning pagoda from collapsing in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region will be finalized later this month, according to the regional cultural heritage bureau.

Wu'anzhou white pagoda in the city of Chifeng dates back to the early Liao Dynasty (907-1125). It is a part of the Wu'anzhou ruins, which was listed as a national key cultural relics in 2013.

It has been evaluated as the earliest existing Liao Dynasty pagoda in China and the only remaining one that is hollow inside and has a domed shrine, which is of high research value.

The pagoda has been in bad condition since an evaluation made in 2013, showing there are 18 wide cracks and over 100 holes. Local residents are worried about the pagoda.

"I am afraid the pagoda could collapse at any moment. Heavy rain may destroy it," said Li Chengyi, a 67-year-old man who has lived near the pagoda his whole life.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage approved the pagoda renovation proposal in 2016. However, the detailed repair plan has failed to pass through the regional bureau. The bureau held an on-site meeting to discuss the renovation plan earlier this month after media reports and residents filing complaints on the dangerous condition of the pagoda. It promised to have the plan finalized next month to start the renovation.