Lhasa
attractions: 1.Potala
Palace 2.Jokhang Temple
3.Barkhor street 4.Norblingka
5 Sera monastery 6.Drepung
monastery 7.Gandan monastery
8.Namtso Lake Lhasa
City
Lhasa,
the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, is located on the north bank of Lhasa
River, a sub branch of Yarlung Tsangpu River. Standing at 3,648m above sea level,
it gets 3021 hours of sunshine annually and thus also named "Sunlit City".
"Lhasa"
means "Holy Land" in Tibetan language. Since Songtsan Ganpu, one of
Tibetan Kings established his capital here in 7th century, Lhasa has then acted
as the center of Tibet politics, economy, culture, transport as well as a sacred
place of Tibet Buddhism. 1.Potala
Palace: Potala Palace is the essence of ancient Tibetan architectural
art and a symbol of Tibetan people's wisdom and power. It is located on the western
part of Lhasa City. In 641, Songtsan Ganpu decided to build this grand palace
for his wife - Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty. However, it was later destroyed
by some lightening strike and warfare in Landama's reign. Only in 17th century,
the Fifth Dalai Lama rebuilt it. And then The Thirteenth Dalai Lama expanded it
to today's scale. The palace is more than 117 meters high and 360 meters wide.
Standing on the top of Mt. Putup , it looms over the entire Lhasa city. In 1994,
Potala Palace was added to the list of world cultural heritage sites by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 2.The
Jokhang Temple: Located in the center of the old Lhasa city, Jokhang Temple
is the first monastery for most pilgrims to visit as it is widely recognized as
the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism. It was built in 647. Everyday many pilgrims
trek a long distance here with some even prostrating by body length. Around the
temple is the famous Barkhor Street where you can get a close touch with local
Tibetan people . <<<<Back<<<< 3.The
Barkhor Street:A circular street around the Jokhang Temple in the center
of the old section of Lhasa, it is the oldest street in a very traditional style
in Tibet, where you can enjoy bargaining with the local Tibetan vendors for the
handicrafts which are rare to be seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is
one of the most important religious paths along which pilgrims walk around Jokhang
Temple while turning prayer wheels in their hands through centuries. Buddhist
pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day
into deep night. <<<<Back<<<< 4.Norbulingka
Park: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden", built in 1751
AD as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama where they handled political affairs
and practiced religious activities. Now a large-scale palace complex and garden
in Tibetan style covering an area of 40 hectares, the whole park has 370 rooms
of different sizes and lawns shaded by green trees and enclosed by various flowers.
Before 1959, commoners had no access to this park. Nowadays, on festivals and
holidays, the local people in their colorful costumes come here with food and
tents to sing and dance overnight. <<<<Back<<<<
5.Sera
Monastery: Sera means "Wild Rose Garden" in Tibetan because
lush wild rose woods once grew around it, the monastery is one of the three largest
monasteries in Tibet. Located at the northern outskirts of Lhasa, it was built
in 1419 AD by Jamchen Choje (or Sakyayeshe), one of the eight disciples of Tsong
Khapa who was the founder of Gelugpa Sect. Sera Monastery houses three colleges
built in 15th and 16th century respectively as well,and it is famous for the "Buddhism
Scriptures Debating".<<<<Back<<<< 6.Drepung
Monastery: it is the largest monastery in Tibet. At its peak time, there
were more than 10,000 monks. It was founded in 15th century at 5km to the western
suburb of Lhasa, and once served as the living palace of Dalai Lama before reconstruction
of Potala Palace. Here you can find great murals, Buddhist scriptures and crafts.<<<<Back<<<< 7.Ganden
Monastery: it is the first Gelupga monastery in Tibet (Gelupga is Pachen
Lama and Dalai Lama's order). It was founded in 1409 in Taktse County, about 45
kilometers east of Lhasa. There are extremely delicate murals and sculptures.
In 1961, it was listed as one of historical relics subject to state protection
by the State Council. <<<<Back<<<< 8.Namtso
Lake: it is one of the three most sacred Lakes in Tibet, located at the
northern Lhasa, Dangxung county, you can get there from Lhasa in 3hours. It is
just like a crystal gem inlaid on the vast Qiangtang Plain. The Nyaiqen Tanglha
mountain range, with peaks over 7000m, towers over the lake to the south. Thawed
snow from this range makes the body of the lake, so the water is a miraculous
shade of turquoise blue, and there are magnificent views of the nearby mountains.
The wild open spaces are intoxicating and dotted with the tents of local nomad
herders. | 
