ROME, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of Tibetan photographs and Tangkas, a traditional Tibetan painting, was opened here Friday afternoon.

    As part of the on-going "2005 China Tibetan Culture Week" in Italy, the exhibition is held to promote among Italians a better understanding of the Tibetan tradition and the changes of Tibetan people's life today, said Qian Xiaoqian, head of the culture week delegation.

    The culture week is jointly sponsored by the China International Culture Association, the Foreign Culture Exchange Association of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), and the Foundation Italy-China.

    More than 200 pictures, including 30 taken by 19 foreign photographers in Tibet earlier this year, are displayed on he     exhibition in the Venice Palace.Visitors to the exhibition can also see 15 Tangkas, which showcases the religious radition and the theory of traditional Tibetan medicine.

    Qian, also vice chairman of the China International Culture Association, said at the opening ceremony that he hopes Italian people can have a glimpse of the Tibetan culture through the exhibition.

    Addressing the opening ceremony, Maria Pia Caravaglia, vice mayor of Rome, said that she appreciates the efforts of the sponsors in promoting this culture exchange event. To know about Tibet, the vice mayor said, means a deeper erstanding of China and its culture.

    A show of traditional Tibetan singing and dancing was staged at the Argentina Theater in Rome Friday evening, which attracted an audience of nearly 1,000. Before coming to Rome, the culture week delegation staged two traditional Tibetan performances in Milan and Bergamo. Also, Tibetologists and lamas in the delegation gave a report in Milan. The exhibition in Rome is scheduled to end on Sept. 23. Enditem