Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are far more than sacred sites of faith — they are living cultural treasures of the Tibetan Plateau, weaving together architectural craftsmanship, spiritual education, and deep-rooted social functions.

Since the 1980s, the central government of China has allocated gold and silver supplies and earmarked other funds for the renovation and preservation of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Cumulative investment has exceeded 1.4 billion yuan or $200 million to date.

Centuries on, iconic landmarks like the Ganden Monastery and the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa remain as vibrant as ever, with curling incense smoke and steady streams of worshippers sustaining their living heritage.