A repository of religious relics

In addition to being one of Tibetan Buddhism's top academies, Tashihunpo Monastery, Shigatse, Tibet autonomous region, is a repository of precious cultural relics, including the world's tallest statue of the Qiangba Buddha, also known the Maitreya Buddha or the Buddha of the Future.

Construction of the 26.2-meter-high bronze statue started in 1914, and took more than 110 craftsmen four years to complete.

More than 279 kilograms of gold were used to coat the statue and the eyebrows are decorated with more than 1,400 jewels, including diamonds, pearls and amber.