Tibetan pilgrims make offerings to a statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet, on Tuesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, reopened to the public on Tuesday after being closed for more than four months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of regular religious practice, hundreds of Tibetan pilgrims walked clockwise around ancient Barkhor Street, a scenic spot in Lhasa, and around the Jokhang Temple.

Pilgrims line up to pay a visit to the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet, on Tuesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

At the left side of the main entrance of the temple, pilgrims and visitors lined up to visit on Wednesday morning. They were reminded by workers to wear face masks. Tibetan vendors selling butter lamps and other local products were hawking their wares around the main entrance.

Dorje Tashi, a Tibetan resident from Qinghai province, said he was pleased to hear that Jokhang Temple had reopened for visitors and that his relatives have been waiting to visit for months.

People walk clockwise on the street around the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, on Tuesday as part of their religious practice. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"I will tell the good news to my relatives in my hometown. I think it's going to be a big surprise for them," he said.

The temple has also begun on-site ticket reservation services. Under the latest schedule, visitors will need to make reservations and study the visiting procedures on the temple's public WeChat account one day ahead. Local visitors are not restricted with reservation requirements.

People pray in the Jokhang Temple on Tuesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Other monasteries in Lhasa, including Sera, Drepung and Gandan, and the Samye monastery in Lhokha, have also reopened to the public recently, China News Service reported.

People walk clockwise on the street around the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, on Tuesday as part of their religious practice. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]