Dangxiong - Lhasa City

The magnanimous temples and the pious Tibetans will surely touch your heart when arriving at the holy city of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. A mix of an easygoing lifestyle and religious devotion marks everything there as "made in Lhasa." 

 For most Tibetans, the essence of Lhasa lies in the Jokhang Temple and the surrounding Barkhor Street, with a cluster of traditional Tibetan houses and Tibetans in traditional costumes. The Sutra-Turning Tube and Dzi beads clenched in a Tibetan's hands tell you that religion is a way of life.

Potala Palace

The Potala Palace stands on the Red Hill overlooking Lhasa, at an elevation of about 3,770 m. It occupies an area of more than 360,000 sq.m, and its 13-story main portion rises 115 m high.

The original Potala was built in 631 under Tubo King Songzan Gambo, which included 999 royal rooms plus a meditation chamber. It was destroyed in the 9th century during the breakdown of the Tubo Kingdom (629-846). The 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682) has the major portion rebuilt in 1645, which contains the White Palace and the Red Palace.

Jokhang Monastery

The Jokhang Monastery, Da Zhao Si is located in downtown Lhasa. It is a hall for Tibetan Buddhists and a symbol of unity between the Tibetan and Han peoples.

The Hall of Sakyamuni is the most important in the monastery. It enshrines a statue of Sakyamuni, which Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng brought to Lhasa. The city is called Lhasa, meaning "holy land," because of the statue's presence.

Ramoche Monastery

The Ramoche Monastery, Xiao Zhao Si is situated in the northwest of Lhasa, covering a total area of 4,000 square meters.

The original building complex has a strong Tang (Han) architecture flavor, for it was first built by Chinese Han architects in the middle of the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when Tang Princess Wencheng took charge of the project and ordered the temple be erected facing east to show her homesickness.

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