The temple adopted the Han nationality architectural style of the Tang Dynasty in several aspects such as roof beams, sunk panels, and wooden square blocks inserted between the top of a column and a crossbeam while the eaves of interior corridor are decorated with rows of divine animals and wooden sphinx carvings assume the flavor of architectures from Western Regions. Tibetan frescoes were painted all around the corridor and the halls' walls, describing Princess Wencheng entering Tibet and other historical facts. The total length of these frescoes is about 1,000 meters, and of high historical and artistic value, according to experts.

In front of the Dazhao Temple gate, there is a stele[WHAT IS THIS?] engraved with historical record of the Alliance between the Tang Dynasty and the Tubo Kingdom in the year of 823, and the Princess Willow Tree. Legend has it that when Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng was married in Tubo, she planted this willow tree. All this has become historic testimony for the unity between Chinese Han and Tibet nationality, and the Tang Dynasty -- Tubo Kingdom Alliance Stele is the important historic substantial material for the research into the Han-Tibet exchange in the Tang Dynasty.

The architecture of the Dazhao Temple is splendid, making the old Lhasa City assume a strong religious atmosphere.

 Barkhor

Barkhor, a circular street at the center of Old Lhasa, is the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and art assemble.

Barkhor is the road which pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night. Most of Lhasa's floating population is comprised of these pilgrims. The pilgrims walk outside four columns on which colorful scripture streamers are hung, a custom that began in the Tubo period (633-877) as a way to show respect.

Barkhor, the sacred pilgrim path, is also a marketplace where shaggy nomads, traders, robed monks and chanting pilgrims join together. Clustered shops and stalls sell printed scriptures, cloth prayer flags and other religious vessels, jewelry, Tibetan knives, ancient coins and other Tibetan relics.

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