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Thousands of Tibetan Buddhists walked around Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, as from Thursday morning to celebrate the climax of the annual "Buddha Month."

Thursday is the 15th day of the fourth month by the Tibetan calendar, the anniversary of the birth and achievement of nirvana of the Buddha, Sakyamuni.

Tibetan Buddhists set off before dawn and walked around the Potala Palace, Johkang Monastery and Ramoqe Temple holding a prayer wheel.

There are three routes: the first goes around the image of Sakyamuni in the Johkang Monastery, the second circumnavigates the Johkang Monastery, and the third, the longest, is to walk around the old city proper of Lhasa including both the Potala Palace and the Johkang Monastery.

Buddhists believe the more circles they walk, the more virtue they have. Consequently, many Buddhists do as many rounds as they can.

Gaisang Qoizhoin, an elderly Tibetan woman living in Lhasa, said she would walk on the longest route three times. Each circle will take two or three hours.

Foreign tourists also joined local Buddhists in the pilgrimage. An American tourist said, "I was surprised to see this special Tibetan culture."

The "Buddha Month" starts from the first day of April by Tibetan calendar and will last for a month. During the month, Buddhists cherished the memory of Sakyamuni by walking with prayer wheels, burning joss sticks and eating vegetarian meals.