The Jokhang temple in Lhasa, which had been closed to public since the March 14 violence, reopened to Buddhist believers and tourists on Friday.

"Only in half a day, did the Jokhang temple receive more than 400 Buddhist believers and some 40 tourists organized in three groups," said Qoizha, who was in charge of the temple's ticket office.

On the square of the temple, Buddhists queued up to make pilgrimage before the statue of Sakyamuni and tourists took photos against the background of the temple complex.

As the first Buddhist temple in Tibet, the Jokhang temple, which means the "House of the Lord," was built during the reign of king Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century to celebrate his marriage with Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

It has remained a key center of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries, and is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tibet along with the Potala Palace.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2008)