Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi-rgyal-po — also known as Panchen Rinpoche — attended a series of religious activities at the Drepung monastery in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, on Tuesday, Tibet Daily reported.

Panchen Rinpoche, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association's Tibet branch, arrived in Lhasa on June 18 after completing Buddhist and social activities in Chamdo.

During his visit to the Drepung monastery, he fulfilled his pilgrimage by chanting, praying, interpreting scriptures and teaching. He also attended the opening ceremony of the preliminary summer examination of Tibetan monks for the Geshi Lharampa degree — the highest academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism. He also gave head-touching blessings to the monks.

Located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, the Drepung monastery was built in 1416 by Jamyang Choje Tashi Palden, a disciple of Je Tsangkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school. It is one of six major monasteries of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. It was designated as a key national relics protection unit in 1982.

In addition to performing his duties at the Tibet branch of the Buddhist Association of China, Panchen Rinpoche will attend a series of religious and social activities during his stay in Lhasa.