Lhasa's Barkhor market reopens after fire

LHASA - The Barkhor, a bustling market street in the heart of Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, was reopened to the public Sunday after a temporary closure following a fire.

The fire broke out at 6:40 p.m. Saturday in part of the Jokhang Temple, which is located in the center of the Barkhor. It was soon put out and no casualties have been reported.

The Jokhang Temple is open. It will be closed from Feb. 19 to 22 as scheduled, when its monks mark the New Year holiday. The Tibetan New Year was celebrated last Friday, coinciding with the Spring Festival this year.

The temple is renowned in Tibetan Buddhism. It has a history of more than 1,300 years and houses many cultural treasures, including a life-sized statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha when he was 12 years old.