Tibet Autonomous Region - Lhasa 拉萨市

Covering an area of 27,335 square kilometers, Lhasa has a population of 400,000. Lhasa (the Roof of the World) is situated in the middle of Tibet Autonomous Region and middle reaches of the Lhasa River. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of the region. Its industries include electrical power, cement, hide processing, mechanical and electrical equipment, weaved carpet, and flour. There is no fog (pea soup) all the year round and with plenty of sunshine. Therefore, it is called “the Sunlight City.” Of interest to visitors include Potala Palace, Jokhong Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Gandan Monastery, Norbulingka Park (the Summer Palace), and Parknor Street.

The Potala, which in Tibetan means “High Heavenly Realm,” is named after a stone cliff on Cape Comorin at the southern tip of India. It was sacred to the Buddha of Compassion, whim the Indians worshipped as Avalokitesvara and the Tibetans believed to be Chenresik, who passed his spirit into the Dalai Lamas.

Barkhor Street 八廓街

The Tibet Autonomous Region has renovated Barkhor Street, a bustling religious, tourist and commercial center in Lhasa, to transform it into a historical site. The renovation project cost 37.6 million yuan (US $ 4.5 million).

Barkhor Street, located at the foot of the incense-coiling Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa, is renowned as Tibet’s largest market place. With a history of more than 1,300 years, the street has been prospering upon the completion of the monastery in central Lhasa in 647. In the Barkhor Street, an inch of land is an inch of gold. Vendors from various parts of China and bordering countries have turned the street into an international market. The street was built in the 7th century when the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo decided to construct the monastery. To supervise the project, he brought his servants and family and settled down on the spot. People then built houses on the four sides for Songtsen Gampo and his servants.

Norbulingka 罗布林卡

Located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, Norbulingka (Norbu means treasure in Tibetan; lingka means garden in Tibetan) was built in 1740s during the reign of the seventh Dalai Lama. Later it was renovated and enlarged and became the Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace. It was here that from April to September each year the Dalai Lama would handle political affairs and hold festive celebrations. Encompassing 360,000 square meters, the park consists of three parts: the palace district, district in front of the palace and the forest district. Forests take up about half of the park. Its main buildings are Golden Palace Sutra Hall, and the New Palace constructed in 1954. UNESCO added Norbulingka Park to the List of World Heritage as an extension of the Potala Palace in December 2001.

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