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Tashilunpo Monastery

Tashilunpo Monastery is located to the west of Shigatse, 280km to the west of Lhasa city by paved road. The elevation of the monastery and the city is 3820m.

It was built in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama, who was the disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelug, or the 'Yellow Sect'. Then, the head master gained the position of Panchen Lama, or the reincarnation of Maitreya. The monastery has been rebuilt and extended by successive Panchen Lamas, and became the political and religious center. It was said that the monastery once housed more than 4000 lamas during its flourishing period. Now the monastery covers an area of 300 thousand square meters.

After entering, right in front is the hall for the stupa of 10th Panchen Lamas. The stupa is over 11 meters high, and is painted with silver color and decorated with gold and jade. A 27-meter statue of the Maitreya Buddha is put in the main hall. The murals and other religious and artistic treasures in the monastery have long been a popular destination with tourists.