Tibet exhibits Buddhist cultural relics

The exhibition displays 101 art works including 39 golden and bronze Buddha statues, 39 musical instruments used in Buddhist mass and 23 Thangka, a form of Tibetan silk painting that dates back to the Tibetan Tubo Kingdom more than 1000 years ago, Yeshe Puencog, curator of the exhibition, said.

"The items on display have much religious and artistic value and they indicate the close ties between Tibet and the central government," he was quoted by the state-run Xinhua news agency as saying.

The exhibits have mainly been bought back off UK, US and Indian collectors, he said.

A Shakyamuni Buddha statue on display, made in the 5th century, was first bought by a Hong Kong collector decades ago and then bought by a Beijing collector.

A huge number of cultural relics were taken overseas in the late 19th century and early 20th century after Western powers invaded Tibet.

China has invested massively in the protection of Tibetan cultural relics in recent years and many relics have returned to China due to Chinese collectors buying them from foreigners.

The exhibition is organised by the China Ethnic Minority Cultural Relics Protection Association, the Tibet regional publicity department and the Tibet Museum.

The exhibition is scheduled to last for two months in Lhasa and will then be taken to other Chinese cities.