1,300-year-old Tibetan temple benefits from government funding

陈小将

Tibetan pilgrims practice religious activities in front of the Jokhang Temple on the Barkor Street in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region. [Photo by Wang Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]
Thanks to the government's policy on freedom of religious belief, which has been particularly involved since the nation's reform and opening-up, substantial funds have been allocated to the restoration of the ancient Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, a local monk official reported on Tuesday.

Built in the seventh century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo of the Tubo Kingdom, the Jokhang Temple is one of the most splendid existing Tibetan places of worship from the Tubo kingdom era. It integrates the architectural elements from Tibetan, Tang Dynasty (618-907), Nepalese, and Indian styles.