Built in 1447, the Tashilhunpo (meaning auspicious Sumeru) Monastery is located on the southern slope of the Nyima Mountain to the west of Shigatse City in Southwest Tibet. It is one of the "Four Famous Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the other three being Sera, Zhaibung, and Gandain inLhasa. The most amazing image in this monastery is the giant statue of Maitreya (Future Buddha). It is the largest such statue in the world and was erected by the 9th Panchen Lama in 1914. It stands 26 meters in height and is 275 kg in weight. It is covered in solid gold and inlaid with a number of precious jewels such as pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers. The image of the Buddha is kind, generous and vivid.

According to historical documents, the Tashilhunpo Monastery was built under the supervision of the first Dalai Lama Genden Zhuba, a disciple of Master Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug Sect (Yellow Sect). When the fourth Panchen Lobsan Qoigyi, titled by the Qing (1644-1911) emperor, became the abbot, it was expanded to a large scale. Since then, the monastery has become the residence of the Panchen Lama.

The monastery occupies 150,000 square meters. Facing south, the complex is built symmetrically against the Nyima Mountain. Its wall, over 3,000 meters long and built according to the topography of the mountain, surrounds 57 buildings, or more than 3,600 rooms.

Listed as a key relic under state protection by the State Council on March 4, 1961.

Best time to go: In August on the Tibetan calendar each year.