In 1960, Lhasa was approved by the State Council to be set up as a prefecture-level city. In 1982 it was proclaimed as one of the first batch 24 historical-cultural cities.

Situated in the alluvial plain of a valley, Lhasa is one of the highest cities of the world in altitude. Its terrain slopes from east to west; the climate belongs to the half-drought plateau area with monsoons in the Temperate Zone. It is known as the "city of sunlight" since annual sunlight time totals more than 3,000 hours. Annual rainfall is between 200 mm and 500 mm, and is concentrated from June to September, with most rain falling at night. The temperature ranges from 14℃ to 28℃, with huge changes from day to day. The air is thin; the weather is dry in winter and spring, with heavy winds; and, the annual period without frost is between 100 and 120 days.

Being an old city on the plateau, Lhasa has impressed visitors with its blue sky, clean water, fresh air and pleasant environment. Endowed by nature with pure water and air, Lhasa is the least polluted city with the best environment in China.

 Sunning Buddha's Portrait

There are innumerous ways to the Drepung Monastery . This temple, which has no walls, is one of the largest religious sites in Tibet. Lucky people might have opportunities to go to Tibet, but few people could be lucky enough to get the chance to watch the annual Sunning Buddha's portrait.

Situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, 10 kilometers from the western suburbs of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery .

Covering an area of 250,000 square meters (299,007 square yards), Drepung Monastery was home to 7,700 monks and possessed 141 fazendas and 540 pastures in its heyday, and is the largest-scale monastery among the ones of the same kind. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung Monastery' which, in the Tibetan language, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice.

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