Lama temple - Giant statue of Maitreya

This statue is a gift from the 7th Dalai Lama to the Emperor Qianlong (Ming Dynasty). It measures 26 meters (28.5 yards) high and was carved from sandalwood (tree of China) and then gilded.
It is located in the Pavilion of the 10,000 joys and represents as prince the future Maitreya Buddha (this representation is quite different from the one in the hall of the Heavenly kings).