Ethnic Tibetan monks display a giant "thangka", a sacred painting on cloth on a hill outside a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. Local Tibetan monks and pilgrims gather to celebrate Monlam, or Great Prayer Festival, one of the most important festivals in Tibetan Buddhism. (Photo: China Daily)

An ethnic Tibetan monk walks in front of a giant "thangka", a sacred painting on cloth, to be displayed on a hill outside a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. (Photo: China Daily)

An ethnic Tibetan monk walks in front of stones shortly before they will be covered by a giant "thangka," a sacred painting on cloth, to be displayed on a hill outside a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009.  (Photo: China Daily)

Young ethnic Tibetan monks attend a prayer meeting at a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009.  (Photo: China Daily)

Young ethnic Tibetan monks attend a prayer meeting at a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009.  (Photo: China Daily)

ng ethnic Tibetan monks attend a prayer meeting at a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. (Photo: China Daily)