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Xigaze snapshots: Tashilhunpo Monastery

By Song Wei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-08-26 11:38

Tashilhunpo Monastery, which means "luck and auspicious" in the Tibetan language, is located in Xigaze prefecture, covering a total area of 237,000 square meters. It was built in 1447 and was the traditional residence of Panchen Lamas. In 1961, the monastery was named a National Key Protection Cultural Heritage site.

As one of the key monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism's yellow sect, the monastery consists of one main palace, six small palaces, 56 sutra halls and more than 6,000 rooms for monks, as well as a 26.2-meter bronze Qamba Buddha statue.

Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigaze prefecture in Tibet autonomous region was built in 1447 and was the traditional residence of Panchen Lamas. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]