Tibetan Buddhist academy faces demolition order

Buddhist nuns gather at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute, where up to 40,000 monks and nuns are in residence for parts of the year. A notice from local officials began circulating in recent months saying that Larung Gar’s population must be reduced to no more than 5,000 residents by Sept. 30.

Buddhist nuns gather at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute, where up to 40,000 monks and nuns are in residence for parts of the year. A notice from local officials began circulating in recent months saying that Larung Gar’s population must be reduced to no more than 5,000 residents by Sept. 30.

(Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images)

July 22, 2016 9:17 AM PT

Buddhist Institute

A Buddhist nun walks to a monastery at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in southwest China’s Sichuan province.

(Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images)

Buddhist Institute

Homes of nuns and monks cover the hillsides of Larung Gar, a center of Buddhist study in southwest China’s Sichuan province.

(Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images)

Buddhist Institute

Buddhist nuns leave the monastery after praying at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute.

(Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images)

Buddhist Institute

Lamas listen to a master at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute.

(China Photos / Getty Images)

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