Potala Palace

Overview

The magnificent 32-acre 13-story Potala Palace site covers the top of a hill in the central city of Lhasa, whose name means “holy land.” It is an official World Cultural Heritage site, and a treasure house of Tibetan history, religion, culture and artifacts. Constructed in the 13th century out of granite and wood, with elegant overhanging roof eaves, brass tiles and inscribed gilded pillars, it features tens of thousands of ornamental Buddha and Dalai Lama figures.

Helpful Advice

Lhasa is very sunny, with rainfall mostly at night. It has very hot summers and very cold winters, making autumn the most comfortable time to visit. Other nearby attractions include the Sera Monastery, where Tibetan monks conduct “daily debates,” and Barkhor Street, known as a Tibetan “saint road” which is still used by worshipers circumambulating the holy city.

Tour Route

Foreign tourists need a special Entry Permit to travel to Tibet, which costs 200 yuan and usually requires 10 days advance application to obtain. The most convenient way to get there is to fly into Gonggar Airport, which is 97 km and a 2-hour bus ride from downtown Lhasa. The Qinghai-Tibet railway also links to many major cities.