World Buddhist event opens in Shaanxi

Hundreds of the world's Buddhists gathered at an ancient temple in Shaanxi province on Thursday to mark the opening of the World Fellowship of Buddhists 27th general conference.

Congregating around a relic containing one of Buddha's finger bones at the Famen Temple in Baoji city, more than 600 representatives from 30 nations and region are in attendance.

Buddhist leaders at the opening ceremony include Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama, and Nichiyu Mochida, chief abbot of Japan's Sogen-ji Temple.

This is the first time the Bangkok-headquartered WFB has held its general conference in the Chinese mainland. The opening ceremony focused on Charity.

The event has been organized by the WFB and jointly sponsored by the Buddhist Association of China and Shaanxi Province.