Du Qinglin, minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC, is enjoying on-the-spot Thangka painting, photo from China Tibet Information Center.

A Tibetan vocal folk artist presents hada scarf to Du Qinglin, minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC, photo from China Tibet Information Center.

A Tibetan girl is explaining the Thangka painting to visitors, photo from China Tibet Information Center.

Tibetan drama performance, photo from China Tibet Information Center.

Visitors in the exhibition, photo from China Tibet Information Center.

Exhibition on some 1,000 Thangka paintings of Gesar, which was chosen to serve the Beijing Olympics cultural program, was officially opened in the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing, on July 31.

Du Qinglin, minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC, Zhu Weiqun, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC, Dondrup Wangboin, deputy director of the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture (CAPDTC) and other officials concerned, attended the opening ceremony.

About 260 Thangka paintings of Gesar were showcased in the exhibition.

Indigenous Tibetan drama on the story of the King Gesar highlighted the exhibition. Process of making Thangka were performed on the spot while vocal folk artists were "telling" the story of King Gesar.

The exhibition will last till August 20 free of charge.