Beijing bridges religious and cultural divides

Tibetan Buddhism was initially a product of the "roof of the world" and initially underscored the cultural, linguistic and spiritual differences between the people of the plateau and their counterparts in China's coastal areas. However, the regional religion began spreading during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and is now practiced in many other parts of the country.

Beijing's long history has resulted in the capital playing a major role in boosting the religion, with thousands of believers memorizing classic scriptures and chanting sutras in the city' monasteries or in their homes.

Qin Hongrong was born into a Han family in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, but she now has a new name, Tongdrimtso, given to her by a "Living Buddha" - an elderly, deeply revered monk - at the Wuming Tibetan Buddhist Institute in Sichuan province.