The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, has concluded two and a half months of religious activities in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region and returned to Beijing.

Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, one of the two most revered "living Buddhas" in Tibetan Buddhism, left Tibet on Monday after giving blessings and presiding over a series of religious rituals at several monasteries in Xigaze Prefecture, the regional government said on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old kept up his custom of spending time at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in Xigaze, the traditional residence of reincarnated Panchen Lamas, on July 17.

He also visited local households, nursing homes, hospitals and schools and held discussions with Tibetan religious circles to gather opinions on social and religious issues.

The Panchen Lama, a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, serves as vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the country's top political advisory body.

Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu was born in February 1990 in Lhari County in northern Tibet's Nagqu Prefecture.

He was chosen as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama in November 1995 after a lot-drawing ceremony among three candidates in Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

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