Potala Palace in Tibet is so rich with history and art, that exactly how many Thangka paintings, Buddha figures and other cultural relics it houses was a mystery.

But we've now got a better idea of the wealth of treasures there, as restorers have been documenting cultural items for three years... logging over 100,000 pieces.

Potala Palace in Tibet is so rich with history and art, that exactly how many Thangka paintings, Buddha figures and other cultural relics it houses was a mystery.

To many, Potala Palace is the symbol of Tibet. The towering spiritual sanctum has a history of 1,300 years, and is among the first to be listed as a National Historical and Cultural Site.

Of the treasures it holds, many items have been checked for the first time in 40 years.

"So far, over 100,000 cultural relics have been documented. Over 60,000 pieces are made of metal, over 40,000 others are Buddha statues, Thangka paintings, gold and silver wares, porcelains, jades, and volumes of religious scriptures," said Gongga Tashi, deputy director, Cultural Relics Management Office, Potala Palace.

"We have now documented all the cultural relics on display in Potala Palace."

Documentation work is always ongoing, but this round was much more comprehensive and thorough.

"Initially, we only had a paper record of the cultural relics. Now we take photos of each piece, and note down the material, size, weight, age and other information," Tashi said.

"There will be a video record of all the items too, which is really significant for cultural protection."

The Potala Palace, also a museum of Tibetan culture, was first built in the seventh century by Tibetan King Songtsa Gambo. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

  Many items have been checked for the first time in 40 years.