Photo shows the 11th Panchen Lama worships at Toling Monastery in Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Recently, the 11th Panchen Erdeni Choskyi Gyalpo arrived in Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region to hold Buddhist activities.

The 11th Panchen Lama gives longevity empowerment to Buddhist followers.

From July 24 to 25, the 11th Panchen Lama visited Toling Monastery in Zanda County, Ngari Prefecture to worship the Buddha and gave longevity empowerment to local Buddhist followers. During his stay, the 11th Panchen Lama also visited the site of the Guge Kingdom ruins and visited local farmers.

Buddhist followers receiving longevity empowerment.

72-year-old Buddhist follower Phupa Dargya had been queuing for the longevity empowerment since dawn.

"Because Ngari Prefecture is so far away and road conditions are not very good, we common people have never had this kind of opportunity to see a great Living Buddha before, let alone have a longevity empowerment," Phurba Dargya said. "The 11th Panchen Lama is so profound and knowledgeable, I'm happy and satisfied that he can give us bless. I feel lucky."

Toling Monastery is located on the banks of the Langchen Khabap River in Zanda County. It was built in 996 AD and was one of the first Buddhist temples built by the Guge Kingdom in Ngari Prefecture. It is now over a thousand years old.

On July 25, the 11th Panchen Lama visited the site of the Guge Kingdom ruins.

The 11th Panchen Lama visits the site of the Guge Kingdom ruins.

The site of the Guge Kingdom ruins has a total area of about 720,000 square meters and was part of the first group of key cultural relic preservation sites in China. The current site rises more than 300 meters from the base of the mountain to the top. The site has a large number of exquisite carved statues, murals, and cultural relics.

"The Guge Kingdom ruins is a precious cultural heritage left by our ancestors. We must strive to preserve this inheritance and manage the site well for both the preservation of cultural relics and for tourism purposes. In recent years, the Central Government has invested large sums of money to carry out large-scale restoration and preservation efforts at the Guge Kingdom ruins. This fully reflects the Central Government's high regard and care for Tibetan ethnic cultural heritage," said the 11th Panchen Lama during his visit.

After visiting the site, the 11th Panchen Lama also went to Zarang Village at the foot of the ruins to visit farmer Jingdrol Dekyi's family. The 11th Panchen Lama talked closely with the family about their medical, education, housing, and income conditions.

Jingdrol Dekyi's family was relocated here from their hometown over 100 kilometers away. The family guesthouse that they operate is valued by the local government, and the Zanda County Government regularly holds trainings for family guesthouses owners here. From the guesthouse alone, Jingdrol Dekyi's family earn an annual income of 170,000 yuan (24,500.27 US dollars).

The 11th Panchen Lama visits Jingdrol Dekyi's family.

Editor: Tommy Tan.