The Potala Palace

Hey it's Emily here to tell you about a site in western China that I would LOVE to visit! The city of Lhasa is located in southwestern China near the Himalayas. The Potala Palace is one of the many old palaces and monastries in Lhasa. This palace was built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century but was partially ruined by war. In 1654, the Fifth Dalai Lama rebuilt the palace so that it resembles the original design. Since then, the palace has "become the seat of the Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet." Each Dalai Lama has added on to the original building a little during their lifetime and now the Potala Palace covers more than 32 acres.


There are two main buildings in the Palace, the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace is located just west of the main courtyard and is the winter home of the Dalai Lamas. Since sun shines into the many rooms all year round, it is the ideal place for the Lamas to relax and meditate. The Great East Hall on the fourth floor is the largest hall in the White Palace.


The Red Palace is located in the center of the Palace and was built after the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Its walls were painted red to symbolize stateliness and power. This part of the Palace is known for its religious statues, stupas, and cultural artifacts.

I would love to visit the Potala Palace because it is a beautiful place filled with old artifacts and living history. I am interested in the culture of China because of its many religions and art and I think the Potala Palace sounds like the perfect place to experience the best of Western China's history.

Here's a link to the site I used for information:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/tibet/lhasa/potala.htm