Potala Palace

Brief Introduction of Potala Palace:
  Potala Palace,a magnificent building,majestically situated on the top of Marpo Ri Hill (also called Red Hill) in the center of Lhasa city, who attract a lot of buddhism pilgrims and hundreds and thousands of visitors from home and abroad each year. The Potala Palace is 119 meters high, 350 meters wide from east to west and 270 meters wide from north to south and covers a huge area of 41 hectares. It stands over 3, 700 meters (12, 000 ft) above sea level, which makes it the highest ancient palace in the world. '

Potala Palace used to be such a sacred place that it was beyond the reach of the common Tibetans. They could only worship on the square at the foot of the hill. After the fourteenth Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the central government turned the Potala Palace into a state museum of historic relics and opened it to the public. Now it is one of the most attractive tourist sites in China and is also a site listed inthe World's Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO.  '

History of the Potala Palace:
In 631 AD, the great Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo began to construct the Potala Palace, but it used to be destroyed by lightning and war,theonly remains from the seventh century are the Cave of Dharma King where Songtsen Gampo practiced Buddhism (Dharma King is the honorary title the people gave to Songtsen Gampo) and a Hall dedicated to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The present buildings were re-constructed by the fifth Dalai Lama in 1645 followed by further re-construction and extension up until 1936 when the stupa chapel for the thirteenth Dalai Lama was finished. The Potala Palace became the chief residence of the Dalai Lama from the middle of the seventeenth century replacing the Drepung Monastery as the center of political power. From then on at the potala palace where all the major religious and political activities took place and the stupas of the previous Dalai Lamas were worshipped as well, with the exception of that of the sixth Dalai Lama.

Architecture of the Potala palace:
Potala Palace is mainly comprised of the Red Palace (religious building) that occupies the center of the cluster of buildings and the White Palace(administerial building) that forms the eastern and western sides of the complex with more than 1000 rooms. These structures can be easily recognized by the colors of their external walls. The Red Palace is mainly for religious use and it is where Buddhist statues are seated. It contains Buddhist halls and stupa chapels of all the former Dalai Lamas other than the sixth holder of the title.  The White Palace, a seven-floor building originally built in 1645, whose wall was painted to white to convey peace and quiet,is the winter palace of Dalai Lama,which is mainly used as his residence as well as administrative offices. Potala Palace also has some subsidiary buildings that include the Zhacang (the Buddhist College), Buddhist schools and lodging houses, etc.

Artistic works and Scripture in Potala Palace:  
Potala Palace is not only a masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, but also a treasure-house of the best Tibetan artistic works and precious relics.During its history of over 1, 300 years, the Potala Palace has become home to an abundance of historical relics. It contains exquisite murals covering an area in excess of 2, 500 square meters (2, 990 square yards), Buddhist pagodas and statues, almost ten thousand thangkas and precious ancient books and records of Buddhist sutras. There are also many relics vouchsafed by the Ming and Qing governments preserved at Potala palace, such as the Imperial Mandate, the Imperial Golden Seal as well as jade seals, golden and silver articles, porcelain and jade articles and the like. As such it is a reflection of Tibetan history and culture and an important part of the heritage of mankind in general. 

Tips:
  1.According to the local custom, you have to tour clockwise around; don't step on the doorsill; don't sIt is not easy for visitors to climb to the top building because of its height, so you'd better slow down. Because the halls are always chilly; you'd better take a coat while visiting!moke in the halls; don't take photos without permission!
  2.It is not easy for visitors to climb to the top building because of its height, so you'd better slow down. Because the halls are always chilly; you'd better take a coat while visiting!
  3.The authorities have decided to try to preserve Potala Palace by allowing less than 850 visitors to enter each day. Therefore we suggest you prepare for a successful trip by purchasing tickets beforehand. Please note that when buying your tickets, you have to show your ID card or passport.
  4.Admission Fee: RMB 100
  5.Opening Hours:09:00 to 12:00 in the morning, 15: 00 to 17:00 in the afternoon.
  6.Recommended Time for a Visit: Two and a Half Hours