On Dec. 8, 1995, the enthronement of the 11th Panchen Lama was held at the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional residence of the Panchen Lamas. Born on Feb. 13, 1990 in north Tibet's Nagqu Prefecture, the Panchen Erdeni Qoigyi Gyaibo was recognized as the incarnation soul boy of the 10th Panchen Lama in Lhasa in November 1995, after strictly executing the religious lot-drawing ritual, and being approved by China's State Council. The following photos show how a boy born in the 1990s has grown into an eminent Tibetan Buddhist leader.

In 1995, the 11th Panchen Lama enthroned with the help of Li Tieying, representative of the State Council and State Councillor.

The 11th Panchen Lama at the tonsure ceremony

A smile of the Panchen Lama

The Panchen Lama at the seminor of the Fourth Session of the 11th CPPCC Central Committee on March 6, 2011

The Panchen Lama gives a blessing touch on an old Tibetan lady on Aug. 6, 2012.

The Panchen Lama paid homage to President Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 10, 2015.