Before the 17th century, according to Buddhist regulations and discipline, monks were not allowed to leave their temple s for dozens of days in the summer, during which time they were required to live in harmony until the prohibition was lifted.

When finally allowed to leave their confinement, monks went down the mountains one after another. Common people would prepare yoghurt for them as alms. Lamas not only drank the yoghurt to their hearts' content, but also played happily and heartily. This is the origin of the "Xuedun" or Shoton Festival

The event has become an important annual occasion, held annually in late June or early July on the Tibetan calendar (about August on the Gregorian calendar). In Tibetan language, Shoton Festival means a time to enjoy yoghurt. During the festival, Buddhists go up to the mountains to spiritually nurture themselves and their families meet them there.

 Holy land--- Lhasa

Lhasa, with a history of 1,300 years, is the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region. Located at the north of the Lhasa River, a branch of the zigzag Yarlung Zangbo River , Lhasa is 3,650 meters above sea level. With seven counties and one district under its jurisdiction, it covers an area of more than 30,000 square kilometers, with an urban zone of 523 square kilometers. Lhasa has a population of 373,000, of whom 130,000 live in the city. There are 31 nationalities in Lassa, including Tibetan, Han and Hui, with Tibetans accounting for 87 percent of the population.

As the longtime political, economic, cultural and religious center of Tibet, Lhasa means "holy land" or the "place of Buddha " in Tibetan. The grand Potala Palace is a symbol of the unified supreme authority on politics and religion. As early as the 7th century, after Songtsan Gambo annexed neighboring tribes and unified Tibet, he moved the capital from Yalong to Luozi (today's Lhasa) and established the Tibetan Kingdom. After the liberation of Tibet on May 23, 1951, a new chapter was opened for Lhasa City.

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