The Land of
Buddhism
Tibet is the land of Buddhism. All across the
region, from the capital city of Lhasa to the
small towns and villages, one can see the
glittering, golden roofs of monasteries located
high above in the mountains, and by the lakes.
Buddhism was introduced into Tibet in the
seventh century and gradually evolved into the
local religion, known as Lamaism. Nowadays,
Lamaism is deeply rooted in the hearts of the
Tibetan people, affecting every aspect of their
lifestyle. The religion encourages them to foster
kindness, benevolence, warmth and tolerance
towards all fellow beings.
The Potala Palace: "A Bright Pearl on the
Roof of the World"
The world-noted Potala Palace is located on
"Red Hill", which is to the west of Lhasa. It was
built in the seventh century, during the reign of
the King Songtsan Gampo. The 13-storied palace
stands 117 meters high and has over 1,000 rooms.
It covers an area of 130,000 square meters. The
complex consists of the Red Palace and the White
Palace. The Red Palace contains various chapels
and mausoleums of previous Dalai Lamas. The White
Palace is the living quarters of successive Dalai
Lamas and their tutors.
The Potala has been a sacred place for hundreds
of years and contains many precious works of art,
including ornately decorated statues, sculptures
and paintings. Pilgrims from Tibet, and all over
the world, come here every year to pay homage. The
difficult journey to "Holy City" is part of the
demonstration of devotion by the devotees.
The Palace is architecturally imposing and
unique in structure. It is the most significant
symbol of Tibet, and is also considered to be one
of the architectural wonders of the world.
The Jokhang Temple: "Spiritual Center of
Tibet" 
The Jokhang Temple, situated in the center of
old Lhasa, was originally built in 647 AD. It is
said that the Tang Princess Wen Cheng, the wife of
King Songtsan Gampo, chose the site. The temple
was built by craftsmen from Tibet, China and Nepal
and thus features different architectural styles.
The Jokhang is the spiritual center of Tibet.
It faces Bakhor Street, which has the city's
greatest concentration of pilgrims, and is Tibet's
busiest commercial center. The three-level roof of
the Jokhang offers splendid views of the Barlchor
Streets and the Potala Palace.
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